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稿子 (gǎo zi) — draft or manuscript (of a document); script (for a speech, play, or performance); mental plan; preparation (figurative)

Definition

A casual, colloquial term for a draft, script, or a rough plan in your head. 草 is a shorter written variant meaning the same draft/manuscript, while 稿件 is the more formal term for a piece submitted for publication.

noun
draft or manuscript (of a document)script (for a speech, play, or performance)mental planpreparation (figurative)
Measure word · 篇

Examples

  • 稿子。
    Zhè fèn gǎo zi hái xū yào xiū gǎi yí xià.
    This draft still needs some revision.
  • 稿子。
    Yǎn yuán men zhèng zài kàn gǎo zi.
    The actors are reading the script.
  • 稿子。
    Zhè jiàn shì wǒ xīn zhōng yǐ yǒu gǎo zi le.
    I already have a plan in mind for this matter.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

稿gǎodraft
子zǐsuffix

稿 gives 'draft', and 子 completes the word for a draft or script.

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
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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Reading & Writing

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