底稿 (dǐ gǎo) — draft; manuscript

Definition

底稿 is a preliminary written version kept before the final copy — used for a novel or speech manuscript one is still working on.

noun
draftmanuscript
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 底稿。
    Tā zhèng zài xiū gǎi zhè piān xiǎo shuō de dǐ gǎo.
    He is revising the draft of this novel.
  • ，底稿。
    Yǎn jiǎng qián, qǐng xiān bǎ dǐ gǎo zhǔn bèi hǎo.
    Before the speech, please prepare the manuscript first.
  • 底稿。
    Zhè fèn dǐ gǎo hái xū yào zài jiǎn chá yí biàn.
    This draft needs to be checked once more.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

底dǐoriginal; base
稿gǎomanuscript; draft

底 here means the original or base copy, and 稿 refers to the manuscript, so the word denotes a draft or manuscript.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī底dǐ
Same sound today

底 pairs 广 (building) with 氐, pointing to the bottom or foundation of a building. Some read 氐 as a bowing figure or tree root, adding a sense of 'down'.

Open 底 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
高
高gāo稿
Same sound today

稿 is built from 禾, which carries the meaning, and 高, which supplies the pronunciation.

Open 稿 →

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