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原書 (げんしょ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
original text ; book in the original language
Refers to the original document or book, as opposed to a copy, translation, or adaptation. Often used for books in their original language, especially European languages.
やく
で
は
なく
原げん
書しょ
で
ドストエフスキー
を
読よ
み
たい
。
I want to read Dostoevsky in the original, not in translation.
Kanji 原 meadow, original, primitive Similar words 原げん 本ぽん 原本 emphasizes the original physical copy or manuscript, often in legal or archival contexts, while 原書 focuses on the original language or unadapted version of a book.
原げん 作さく 原作 refers to the original work (e.g., a novel) that a film, drama, or adaptation is based on, whereas 原書 is about the book itself in its original form or language.
Etymology Compound of 原 (gen, 'original') and 書 (sho, 'book, document'). The meaning is transparent from its components.
