HSK 7, ng, 15 strokes, radical 禾, rank #7751, Hard
稿
gǎo
stalk of grain
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 禾, rank #7751, Hard
gǎo(gao3) T3
1draft, manuscript, rough copy
2stalk of grain
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March 24, 2026
稿(稾)gǎo(gao3)
The character 稿 (gǎo) refers to a draft or manuscript, often used in contexts related to writing or documents. It can also refer to a rough copy of a text that is not yet finalized. Additionally, it is used to describe the stalk of grain, connecting it to agricultural contexts.
Strokes15Radical禾Frequency#7751DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, draft writing is a significant part of the creative process, especially in literature and academia. Many writers share their rough drafts publicly for feedback, reflecting a collaborative spirit in literary pursuits.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (稻) holding a rough draft (稿) of his harvest plans, where the character for grain (禾) and the idea of a rough draft come together, helping you remember both the form and meaning of 稿 (gǎo). The 'g' in 'grain' and '稿' can help you recall the pronunciation.
Meanings of 稿
gǎo(gao3)
1draft, manuscript, rough copy
2stalk of grain
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 稿
稿Simplified
稾Traditional
15Strokes
禾Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#7751Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 稿
Podcast: 稿
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AI Study Notes for 稿
Quick Contrast
草稿 (cǎogǎo) vs 稿 (gǎo): Use 草稿 for informal drafts or rough notes, while 稿 can refer to more formal manuscripts or documents.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (稻) holding a rough draft (稿) of his harvest plans, where the character for grain (禾) and the idea of a rough draft come together, helping you remember both the form and meaning of 稿 (gǎo). The 'g' in 'grain' and '稿' can help you recall the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 稿 (gǎo) with similar-sounding words in Chinese. It's used more in informal contexts when referring to drafts, while formal pieces may use other terms. Be careful with the tones; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 稿 (gǎo) is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 topics like writing and documents. Focus on using it in sentences related to writing drafts or manuscripts to build your vocabulary contextually.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, draft writing is a significant part of the creative process, especially in literature and academia. Many writers share their rough drafts publicly for feedback, reflecting a collaborative spirit in literary pursuits.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 稿 (gǎo) with the similar-looking and sounding character 夯 (hāng). Remember that 稿 relates to drafts, while 夯 has different meanings. Another mistake is using it in formal contexts where more precise terms are required.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 稿
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Grammar Patterns of 稿
稿 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他同意发布一篇新的新闻____。
He gave the okay to issue a new press release.
Example Sentences for 稿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他同意发布一篇新的新闻稿。
tā tóng yì fā bù yī piān xīn de xīn wén gǎo。
He gave the okay to issue a new press release.
2
我已经写好这封信的草稿。
wǒ yǐ jīng xiě hǎo zhè fēng xìn de cǎo gǎo。
I've made a rough draft of the letter.
3
他们从事先准备好讲稿的演说转向一问一答的形式.
tā mén cóng shì xiān zhǔn bèi hǎo jiǎng gǎo de yǎn shuō zhuǎn xiàng yī wèn yī dá de xíng shì.
They switched from set speeches to a question - and - answer format.
4
他决定无论如何都要出版那部手稿。
tā jué dìng wú lùn rú hé dū yào chū bǎn nà bù shǒu gǎo。
He had decided to publish the manuscript no matter what.
5
直到付梓的那一刻他才完稿。
zhí dào fù zǐ de nà yī kè tā cái wán gǎo。
He was writing the book up to the moment the presses rolled.
6
整整5页讲稿都是对她的政敌的诋毁。
zhěng zhěng5 5 yè jiǎng gǎo dū shì duì tā de zhèng dí de dǐ。
Five whole pages of script were devoted to rubbishing her political opponents.
7
17家出版社回绝了这部手稿，直到詹克斯看到了它的潜在价值。
17 17 jiā chū bǎn shè huí jué le zhè bù shǒu， gǎo ， zhí dào zhān kè sī kàn dào le tā de qián zài。
Seventeen publishers rejected the manuscript before Jenks saw its potential.
8
谁在乱动我的手稿? 全给弄得乱七八糟的.
shuí zài luàn dòng wǒ de shǒu gǎo? ? quán gěi nòng dé luàn qī bā zāo.
Who's pissing about with my manuscript? They're all out of order.
The old librarian illuminated some old books and manuscripts.
10
手稿是作曲家亲笔写的。
shǒu gǎo shì zuò qū jiā qīn bǐ xiě de。
The manuscripts were written in the composer's own hand.
Cultural Notes for 稿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, draft writing is a significant part of the creative process, especially in literature and academia. Many writers share their rough drafts publicly for feedback, reflecting a collaborative spirit in literary pursuits.
Word Family of 稿
Words Containing This Character20
稿gǎodraft
手稿manuscript
投稿tóugǎoto contribute (writing)
稿子gǎoziscript
稿件gǎojiànmanuscript
草稿draft
发稿(of a journalist) to send a dispatch發稿
撰稿to write (an article for publication)
稿费author's remuneration稿費
初稿first draft (of writing)
原稿manuscript
文稿manuscript
撰稿人author (of a manuscript)
新闻稿press release新聞稿
书稿manuscript of a book書稿
截稿(of a newspaper) to stop accepting incoming articles
稿酬fee paid to an author for a piece of writing
稿纸draft paper稿紙
征稿to solicit contributions (to a publication)徵稿
修改稿revised draft
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 稿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 稿
草稿 (cǎogǎo) specifically means 'rough draft' and is more commonly used for informal drafts, while 稿 (gǎo) can refer to various kinds of drafts or manuscripts.
It's generally more informal; for formal documents, consider using more specific terms like 文稿 (wéngǎo) for written manuscripts.
The correct pronunciation is gǎo, with a falling-rising tone. Practice saying it in sentences to reinforce the tonal aspect.
