構造 and 構成: structural relationships and composition
Compare a bridge’s internal structure and a story’s intersecting timelines with the composition of a presentation or story. Follow relationships, parts, and each term’s sentence role.
Internal structure and intersecting timelines
構造 (こうぞう) means structure. 「橋の内部構造を図で確認した。」 means “I examined a diagram of the bridge's internal structure.” The bridge’s internal structure is examined through a diagram.
「この物語は二つの時間が交差する構造になっている。」 means “This story has a structure in which two time periods intersect.” The relationship between two intersecting time periods is described as the story’s 構造.
Organizing parts and diagramming composition
構成 (こうせい) means structure or composition. 「発表を三つの部分で構成した。」 means “I organized the presentation into three sections.” 構成した describes the past act of organizing the presentation into three sections.
「物語の構成を図にして整理する。」 means “I diagram the structure of the story.” Here 構成 is the object being diagrammed. 整理する is nonpast, unlike the past action in 構成した.
Different focuses within a story
The story’s 構造 example describes the relationship between two timelines. The story’s 構成 example describes diagramming its composition, so the words cannot simply be divided into physical objects versus writing.
構成した focuses on organizing a presentation into parts. In 物語の構成, the noun names the story’s composition as the object of the diagramming activity.
What role does 構成 have in 発表を三つの部分で構成した and 物語の構成を図にして整理する?
Show the answer and why
The first describes the past act of organizing a presentation into three parts. The second names the story’s composition as the object being diagrammed; the diagramming action is nonpast.