1.
excellent work; outstanding piece; prize-winning entry
A work of particularly high quality, especially one that receives recognition in a competition or exhibition.
A compound of 優秀 (excellent, outstanding) and 作 (work, piece). Commonly used in the context of literary, art, film, and other creative competitions where works are evaluated and ranked.
Often the tier below the grand prize (最優秀作 or 大賞), making it roughly equivalent to a runner-up or merit award.
Common collocations
- 優秀作に選ばれる: to be selected as an outstanding work
- 優秀作品: outstanding work (with the more formal 品 suffix)
- 優秀作を発表する: to announce the outstanding works