Japanese word

原書

Pronunciation

Romajigensho

Meaning

  • nounbook in the original language

Example

フランス語の原書を読んでいます。fu ra n su go no gen sho o yo n de i ma su

I am reading a book in French.

Illustration for 原書 (book in the original language)

More examples

難しい表現は原書の前後の文から意味を推測します。muzuka shi i hyō gen wa gen sho no zen go no bun ka ra i mi o sui soku shi ma su

For difficult expressions, we guess the meaning from the sentences before and after them in the original book.

Core concept

Refers to a book or document encountered in the language in which it was first written, rather than through translation.

Common phrases

  • 原書を読むgen sho o yo mu

    read the original book

  • 原書に当たるgen sho ni a ta ru

    consult the original book

  • 原書から引用するgen sho ka ra in yō su ru

    quote from the original book

Similar words

原典genten: The source work that provides the basis for later translations, editions, or academic study.
原著gencho: An independently created work by the original author, not a translation or adaptation.

Definition in Japanese

翻訳されたものではなく、もとの言語で書かれた本や文書。hon yaku sa re ta mo no de wa na ku mo to no gen go de ka ka re ta hon ya bun sho

Word origin

The compound 原 (gen, "origin") + 書 (sho, "writing") forms 原書 (gensho), meaning a book or document in its original language.

Usage tips

  • In English, "original" can mean first or unchanged, but 原書 (gensho) specifically identifies a work read in its original language rather than in translation.

Other meanings

  • original documentnoun

Opposites

  • 訳書yakushotranslated booknoun

Word lists with this word