Japanese word

原典

Pronunciation

Romajigenten

Meaning

  • nounoriginal text

Example

研究者は原典を丁寧に読みます。ken kyū sha wa gen ten o tei nei ni yo mi ma su

Researchers read the original text carefully.

Illustration for 原典 (original text)

More examples

研究者は翻訳だけでなく、原典にも当たります。ken kyū sha wa hon yaku da ke de na ku gen ten ni mo a ta ri ma su

Researchers consult the original text as well as the translation.

Core concept

原典 (genten) presents a work in its own source wording rather than through a translated or subsequently modified version.

Common phrases

  • 原典を読むgen ten o yo mu

    read the original text

  • 原典に当たるgen ten ni a ta ru

    consult the original text

Similar words

原文genbun: The words of a text as they appear in the original source.
原書gensho: A book in the language and form in which it was originally written.

Definition in Japanese

後の翻訳や解釈の基礎となる、作品や文書のもとの本文。ato no hon yaku ya kai shaku no ki so to na ru saku hin ya bun sho no mo to no hon bun

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 原典 (genten) joins 原 (gen, "source") with 典 (ten, "classic or written text"), forming the sense of an original source text.

Usage tips

  • When discussing a translated book, English speakers use original text for the source wording, a distinction that helps connect 原典 (genten) with its usual translation.

Other meanings

  • source textnoun

Word lists with this word