noun HSK 4
draft · manuscript · sketch · straw
Meaning
稿 refers to a preliminary version of written work, such as a draft of an article, manuscript, or speech. It can also mean a sketch or outline. In agricultural contexts, it can refer to straw or stalks of grain, though this usage is less common in modern Chinese.
Usage
Most commonly used in compound words related to writing and publishing, such as 稿子 (gǎozi, draft/manuscript) or 草稿 (cǎogǎo, rough draft). Often appears in professional or academic contexts when discussing written materials in various stages of completion.
Examples
- 01我昨天晚上写完了文章的初稿。.I finished the first draft of the article last night.
- 02编辑正在审阅他投的稿子。.The editor is reviewing the manuscript he submitted.
Measure words
- 篇一篇稿子
- 份一份稿件
Common collocations
- 写稿to write a draft
- 投稿to submit a manuscript
- 审稿to review a manuscript
- 改稿to revise a draft
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 禾 (hé, grain/cereal) as the radical and 高 (gāo, tall/high) as the phonetic component. Originally referred to dried grain stalks or straw, later extended metaphorically to mean draft writing.