校正
kōsei[ko̞ːse̞ː]
The English phrase proofreading is translated into Japanese as 校正 (kōsei).
校正 specifically emphasizes the act of proofreading, focusing on detecting and rectifying errors in written texts. In casual conversations, you can use the informal term チェック to mean check or proofreading. The term 編集 primarily refers to editing but also encompasses proofreading in specific contexts like publishing and media.
Meaning: act or process by which a document is proofread (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 校正 refers to checking for typographical errors and formatting, 校閲 refers to checking the factual accuracy and content of a text.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 校正 can be turned into a verb by adding the verb する, resulting in 校正する (to proofread). To refer to a person who performs proofreading, you add the suffix 者 to the noun, resulting in 校正者 (proofreader).
How do you pronounce it?
kōsei
Did you know?
- Because Japanese uses three different writing systems, 校正 involves checking not just spelling, but also whether the correct kanji is used for the specific intended meaning, as many words sound the same but are written differently.
- When proofreading physical manuscripts, Japanese editors traditionally used specific red marks called 校正記号 (kōsei kigō) that differ significantly from Western standard marks.
- The kanji 校 in 校正 refers to a 'school' but also means 'to collate' or 'to compare' when used in publishing. This reflects an ancient practice of comparing different handwritten copies of a text to find errors.
Examples in context
- 私は校正の仕事を引き受けた。I took on the job of proofreading.This sentence is useful for describing a person taking on a job involving 校正.Tatoeba #157141 by bunbuku, translation #257393 by CK
- 彼は原稿を編集して、誤りを修正しました。He edited the manuscript and corrected the mistakes.
- 私は校正が得意です。I am skilled in proofreading.
- 話の文法をチェックしてもらえますか？Could you check the grammar in my story?
- 彼女は私の小説の校閲をしてくれました。She proofread my novel.
- 校正に時間がかかりました。kousei ni jikan ga kakarimashita.The proofreading took some time.
- この原稿の校正をお願いします。kono genko no kousei o onegaishimasu.Please do the proofreading for this manuscript.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are working together in an office.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さん、この資料の校正は終わりましたか？Himari-san, kono shiryo no kousei wa owarimashita ka?Himari, is the proofreading for these materials finished?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、蓮さん、今確認しているところです。Hai, Ren-san, ima kakunin shite iru tokoro desu.Yes, Ren, I am checking them right now.
- 蓮 Ren丁寧な校正をよろしくお願いします。Teinei na kousei o onegaishimasu.Please do a thorough proofreading.
- 陽葵 Himari分かりました、しっかり見ておきますね。Wakarimashita, shikkari mite okimasu ne.Understood, I will look at it carefully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “proofreading” translations and entries 校正, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
