処 女 作(しょじょさく)

しょじょさく

noun

debut work; maiden work

formalacademicacademicculture

1. debut work; maiden work; first work

An artist's or author's first published or released work. Used for novels, films, music albums, and other creative works.

これが彼(かれ)の処女作(しょじょさく)だ。

This is his debut work.

処女作(しょじょさく)がいきなりベストセラーになった。

Her debut work immediately became a bestseller.

この映画(えいが)監督(かんとく)の処女作(しょじょさく)は低予算(ていよさん)ながらも高(たか)い評価(ひょうか)を受(う)けた。

This film director's debut work received high praise despite its low budget.

Literally "maiden work," from 処女(しょじょ) (maiden, virgin) and 作(さく) (work, production). Despite the literal meaning, the word is used regardless of the creator's gender.

In modern usage, some people prefer the gender-neutral alternative デビュー作(でびゅーさく), but 処女作(しょじょさく) remains widely used in formal and literary contexts.

Common collocations

処女作(しょじょさく)を発表(はっぴょう)する (to release one's debut work)
処女作(しょじょさく)を書(か)く (to write one's first work)
処女作(しょじょさく)が話題(わだい)になる (one's debut work becomes a talking point)

Similar words

処女作(しょじょさく): first creative work (formal, literary)
デビュー作(でびゅーさく): debut work (gender-neutral, casual)
第一作(だいいっさく): first work (neutral, sequential numbering)

general

Added 2026.3.7 20:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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