原稿
yuángǎo
In Chinese, the English phrase manuscript is translated as 原稿 (yuángǎo). Wiktionary also lists 草稿 (cǎogǎo).
Meaning: book, article etc, submitted for reproductive publication (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 原稿 | yuángǎo |
| 草稿 | cǎogǎo |
The term is used to refer to a book, article etc, submitted for reproductive publication.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 原稿 is composed of 原, meaning original and 稿, meaning manuscript or draft.
Which one should you use?
原稿 refers specifically to the completed work intended for a publisher. In contrast, 草稿 refers to a preliminary rough draft, a sketch or an unfinished working draft.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term 稿件 is commonly used to refer to a manuscript.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
yuángǎo
Did you know?
- The character 稿 for manuscript originally referred to the stalks of grains like rice or wheat. It evolved to mean a 'draft' because early writing materials were sometimes made from these plant fibers.
- The term 稿费 refers specifically to the 'manuscript fee' paid to an author. In Chinese culture, this is a distinct professional term rather than just calling it a 'payment' or 'salary'.
- A writer's 'master copy' that serves as the foundation for all other copies is called 底稿. The character 底 literally translates to 'bottom' or 'base'.
Examples in context
- 我已经完成了我的手稿。I have finished my manuscript.
- 请向我们提交您的原稿。Please submit your manuscript to us.
- 我需要准备我的文稿。I need to prepare my manuscript.
- 这份原稿已经改好了。Zhè fèn yuángǎo yǐjīng gǎi hǎo le.This manuscript has already been revised.
- 编辑正在看你的原稿。Biānjí zhèngzài kàn nǐ de yuángǎo.The editor is reading your manuscript.
- 我们需要寄送一份原稿。Wǒmen xūyào jìsòng yī fèn yuángǎo.We need to send a manuscript.
Example conversation
An author is talking to his editor about a book.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，我的原稿写完了。Xiǎowén, wǒ de yuángǎo xiě wán le.Xiaowen, I have finished my manuscript.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太好了，俊杰，快发给我吧。Tài hǎo le, Jùnjié, kuài fā gěi wǒ ba.Great, Junjie, send it to me quickly.
- 俊杰 Junjie现在发给你，请查收。Xiànzài fā gěi nǐ, qǐng cháshōu.Sending it to you now, please check it.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen收到了，我马上看原稿。Shōu dào le, wǒ mǎshàng kàn yuángǎo.Received, I will look at the manuscript immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “manuscript” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
