添削

• Reading: てんさく
• Romaji: tensaku
• Kanji breakdown: 添 (ten/soe) — add, append; 削 (saku/kezu) — cut, delete, pare
• Pronunciation: /teɴ.sa.kɯ/

Meaning

Correction; revision; editing of writing. The act of reviewing and correcting a student's or writer's text, adding and deleting as needed.

Used as a noun and する-verb (添削する). In educational contexts, 添削 refers to the teacher's marking and correction of compositions, essays, or poems. In haiku and waka traditions, a master's 添削 of a student's verse is a time-honoured form of mentorship. Also used in professional writing, correspondence schools, and language learning contexts. The character 添 (to add) and 削 (to cut) together convey balanced revision.

Examples

1. 先生に小論文を添削していただき、表現が格段に洗練された。 After the teacher corrected my essay, the writing became significantly more polished.
2. 添削の際は誤りを指摘するだけでなく、良い点も伝えることが大切だ。 When correcting writing, it is important not only to point out errors but also to acknowledge what was done well.
3. 彼女は作文教室で何十人もの生徒の原稿を毎週添削している。 She corrects dozens of students' manuscripts every week at the writing workshop.

Usage Guide

Context: education, writing, language learning, poetry, publishing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 添 (to add, append) and 削 (to cut, pare down). The pairing of addition and deletion captures the essential dual nature of editing: supplementing what is lacking and removing what is excessive.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal