草稿

• Reading: そうこう
• Romaji: souko
• Kanji breakdown: 草 (sō) — rough, draft (also: grass); 稿 (kō) — manuscript, draft
• Pronunciation: /so.ː.ko.ː/

Meaning

Draft; manuscript; rough copy. A preliminary, unfinished version of a piece of writing, composed before final editing and publication.

A noun used in literary and academic contexts to describe early-stage written material. 草稿を書く (sōkō wo kaku) means to write a draft. A 草稿 typically undergoes multiple rounds of 推敲 (suikō — revision) before it is finalised. Preserved drafts of major authors are valued for revealing the creative process and are often archived in literary museums or university libraries.

Examples

1. 芥川龍之介の草稿には、推敲の跡が生々しく残っている。 Akutagawa Ryunosuke's manuscripts vividly preserve the traces of his revisions.
2. 草稿の段階では大胆に書き、後で修正すればよい。 At the draft stage, it's best to write boldly and make corrections later.
3. 出版前の草稿を友人に読ませて意見をもらった。 I had a friend read my draft before publication and got their feedback.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, literature, academia

Tone: informational

Origin & History

From 草 (sō — rough, preliminary, grass) and 稿 (kō — manuscript, draft). In this context 草 means 'rough' or 'preliminary' (as in 草案 — rough plan), while 稿 specifically denotes a written manuscript or article.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Writers, scholars

Social background: Educated