草稿

草稿 means a draft or preliminary version of a written work, such as a paper, article, or document. It refers to an initial version that is not yet finalized and may be revised before publication or submission.

The character 草 (cǎo) originally meant grass or something rough and unrefined, while 稿 (gǎo) refers to a manuscript or written material. Together, they suggest something rough or unfinished, like a first draft of a text.

草稿 is commonly used in academic, professional, and creative contexts. For example, writers often create a 草稿 before polishing their work. In Chinese culture, the concept of revision and refinement is highly valued, and 草稿 represents the first step in this process.