Japanese word

原文

Pronunciation

Romajigenbun

Meaning

  • nounoriginal text

Example

原文をそのまま読みます。gen bun o so no ma ma yo mi ma su

I read the original text as it is.

Illustration for 原文 (original text)

More examples

私は原文と訳文を比べて、表現の違いを確認します。watashi wa gen bun to yaku bun o kura be te hyō gen no chiga i o kaku nin shi ma su

I compare the original text with the translation to check the differences in expression.

Core concept

Identifies the wording that serves as the source for a translation, quotation, or comparison.

Common phrases

  • 原文を読むgen bun o yo mu

    read the original text

  • 原文に忠実なgen bun ni chū jitsu na

    faithful to the original text

Similar words

原典genten: The original work or source text from which a translation or quotation is taken.

Definition in Japanese

他の言語に訳したり書き改めたりする前の、もとの文章。hoka no gen go ni yaku shi ta ri ka ki arata me ta ri su ru mae no mo to no bun shō

Word origin

The word 原文 (genbun) consists of 原 (gen, "origin") and 文 (bun, "writing"), so its literal structure points to writing from the source.

Usage tips

  • In bilingual editing, 原文 (genbun) labels the source wording, which is kept separate from the version produced in the other language.

Word lists with this word