Difference between 쓰다 and 적다

Question

안녕하세요!

I am a bit curious about the difference between 쓰다 and 적다. For example which one is a better translation for "The woman writes a book":

1. 여자는 책을 씁니다;
2. 여자는 책을 적습이다;

??

Answer 1

^{Sorry for a superficial question, it was pretty easy to find an answer, but let me just share the knowledge here, as in wiki}

Definitions

쓰다 - creatively writing

쓰다 is used when you are writing something creative and meaningful. You act as an author.

Use cases: creating (writing) books, writing letters, writing texts of the songs, writing this article (check my last chapter of this paper :D ).

적다 - making notes

적다 is mostly about the simple process of writing symbols on paper/on the screen, to save something in a written form. So, it is mostly about the mechanical process of hand-movement.

Use cases: making notes, writing the shopping lists, saving the phone number in an old-style contact-book.

Question about translation

So, the most suitable translation for the original sentence "The woman writes a book" depends on the woman and her book. If that sentence was about another one "Harry Potter and something" book from Joanne Rowling — it is definitely 쓰다. But if the woman is my neighbor and she is filling a register-book of her daily purchases — 작다 would fit better.

See also

• wiseinit.com explanation
• duolingo.com discussion