草稿
cǎogǎo
The English word 'draft' can be translated into Chinese as 草稿 (cǎogǎo).
The term 草稿 is used to refer to the preliminary versions of creative or personal writing, such as essays, letters or speeches.
Meaning: early version of a written work (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 草 (cǎo), meaning 'grass' or 'rough/unrefined' and 稿 (gǎo), meaning 'manuscript' or 'draft'.
Which one should you use?
While 草稿 refers to a rough version of a written text or manuscript, 草案 is the specific term used for a draft of a formal proposal, law or official plan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term for 'draft' can be expressed as 草圖.
How do you pronounce it?
cǎogǎo
Did you know?
- In Chinese calligraphy, there is a specific style called 草書 (cǎoshū) or 'grass script', which is a highly abbreviated and rapid way of writing characters.
- In Chinese, if you describe someone's behavior or work as 草率, you are calling them 'cursory' or 'haphazard', using the same 'grass' root found in 草稿.
- The character 稿 is also used in the term 稿費, which refers to the 'royalties' or 'writing fees' an author receives for their work.
Examples in context
- 我在寫演講的草稿。I am writing a draft of the speech.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 草稿 when discussing writing a speech.Tatoeba #6633873 by verdastelo9604, translation #254018 by CM
- 我们需要一份这个计划的草案。We need a draft of this plan.
- 我还在写论文，只完成了初稿。I'm still writing my thesis, and only finished the first draft.
- 我只是在草稿纸上写了一些点子。I only wrote down some ideas on scratch paper.
- 我需要一份這個計劃的草圖。I need a draft of this plan.
- 這份報告還只是草稿。Zhè fèn bàogào hái zhǐshì cǎogǎo.This report is still just a draft.
- 你可以把草稿給我看嗎？Nǐ kěyǐ bǎ cǎogǎo gěi wǒ kàn ma?Can you show me the draft?
Example conversation
At the office, Xiaowen asks Haoran about his progress.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你的企劃書寫好了嗎？Hàorán, nǐ de qǐhuàshū xiě hǎo le ma?Haoran, have you finished writing the proposal?
- 浩然 Haoran還沒，我現在還在寫草稿。Hái méi, wǒ xiànzài hái zài xiě cǎogǎo.Not yet, I am still writing the draft.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那等你的草稿完成了再給我吧。Nà děng nǐ de cǎogǎo wánchéng le zài gěi wǒ ba.Then give it to me once your draft is complete.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，我下午就會完成。Hǎo de, wǒ xiàwǔ jiù huì wánchéng.Okay, I will finish it this afternoon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “draft” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
