起草

qǐcǎo: 起草 - To Draft, To Draw Up

Quick Summary

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  • Summary: Learn how to use the essential Chinese verb 起草 (qǐcǎo), which means “to draft” or “to draw up.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use `起草` in business, legal, and formal contexts. Discover its cultural significance, see practical example sentences for drafting contracts and plans, and understand how it differs from the simple verb “to write” (写, xiě).

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): qǐcǎo
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: To create the first version of a formal document, plan, or law.
  • In a Nutshell: 起草 (qǐcǎo) is not just “to write.” It's the specific act of creating an initial, formal piece of writing that is intended for review, revision, and eventual finalization. Think of it as the official starting point for any important text, like a contract, a piece of legislation, a company policy, or a major project plan. It carries a sense of formality and purpose that “writing a note” does not.

Character Breakdown

  • 起 (qǐ): This character's original meaning is “to rise” or “to get up.” By extension, it means “to start,” “to initiate,” or “to begin.”
  • 草 (cǎo): This character means “grass.” Because grass can be seen as wild, messy, or foundational, it took on the meaning of “rough,” “preliminary,” or “in draft form.” For example, a rough draft is a `草稿 (cǎogǎo)`.
  • When combined, 起草 (qǐcǎo) literally translates to “start the grass” or “begin the rough version.” This perfectly captures the meaning of creating the initial draft of a document.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Importance of Process: In Chinese business and governmental culture, process and procedure are highly valued. 起草 (qǐcǎo) is the critical first step in a formal, often hierarchical, workflow. A document that has been `起草`'d is understood to be the beginning of a journey that will involve review (审核, shěnhé), revision (修改, xiūgǎi), and final approval (批准, pīzhǔn). This structured approach reflects a cultural preference for deliberation and consensus-building in formal matters.
  • Contrast with “Jotting Down”: In the West, one might casually say, “I'll draft an email” or “let's sketch out some ideas.” While “to draft” is a good translation, 起草 (qǐcǎo) carries a heavier weight. You would never use `起草` for something trivial like a shopping list or a quick note to a friend. Using it signals that the document is significant and that a formal process is being initiated. It's the difference between scribbling on a napkin and laying the foundation for a skyscraper.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Formality: 起草 (qǐcǎo) is used almost exclusively in formal, professional, or official settings.
  • Business Context: This is one of the most common environments for `起草`. It's used for drafting contracts, business proposals, company regulations, official announcements, and meeting agendas.
    • e.g., `起草一份合同 (qǐcǎo yī fèn hétong)` - to draft a contract.
  • Government and Legal Context: `起草` is the standard term for drafting laws, regulations, policies, and official statements.
    • e.g., `起草一部新法律 (qǐcǎo yī bù xīn fǎlǜ)` - to draft a new law.
  • Academic/Project Context: It can be used for drafting a thesis outline, a research proposal, or a project plan.
    • e.g., `起草项目计划书 (qǐcǎo xiàngmù jìhuàshū)` - to draft a project proposal.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们的律师正在起草一份新的租赁合同。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen de lǜshī zhèngzài qǐcǎo yī fèn xīn de zūlìn hétong.
    • English: Our lawyer is currently drafting a new lease agreement.
    • Analysis: A classic and very common use of `起草` in a professional, legal context.
  • Example 2:
    • 这个项目计划是谁起草的？
    • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù jìhuà shì shéi qǐcǎo de?
    • English: Who drafted this project plan?
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the `是…的 (shì…de)` construction to emphasize the agent (who) of the action `起草`.
  • Example 3:
    • 政府成立了一个专门小组来起草环保法规。
    • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chénglìle yīgè zhuānmén xiǎozǔ lái qǐcǎo huánbǎo fǎguī.
    • English: The government formed a special committee to draft environmental regulations.
    • Analysis: This shows `起草` being used in a high-level, official government context.
  • Example 4:
    • 我花了一整个下午才起草好这份报告的初稿。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ huāle yī zhěnggè xiàwǔ cái qǐcǎo hǎo zhè fèn bàogào de chūgǎo.
    • English: I spent the entire afternoon just to finish drafting the first version of this report.
    • Analysis: The resultative complement `好 (hǎo)` indicates the successful completion of the drafting action. `初稿 (chūgǎo)` means “first draft,” which often appears with `起草`.
  • Example 5:
    • 在会议之前，请把你的想法起草成一份提案。
    • Pinyin: Zài huìyì zhīqián, qǐng bǎ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ qǐcǎo chéng yī fèn tí'àn.
    • English: Before the meeting, please draft your ideas into a proposal.
    • Analysis: The `把…起草成… (bǎ…qǐcǎo chéng…)` structure is useful, meaning “to take X and draft it into Y.”
  • Example 6:
    • 公司需要起草一份新的员工行为准则。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī xūyào qǐcǎo yī fèn xīn de yuángōng xíngwéi zhǔnzé.
    • English: The company needs to draw up a new employee code of conduct.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `起草` for internal company policy documents.
  • Example 7:
    • 他被指派起草这次重要会议的演讲稿。
    • Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐpài qǐcǎo zhè cì zhòngyào huìyì de yǎnjiǎng gǎo.
    • English: He was assigned to draft the speech for this important conference.
    • Analysis: Here, `被 (bèi)` is used to form a passive sentence, showing that the action of drafting was assigned to him.
  • Example 8:
    • 联合国正在起草一项关于人工智能伦理的决议。
    • Pinyin: Liánhéguó zhèngzài qǐcǎo yī xiàng guānyú réngōng zhìnéng lúnlǐ de juéyì.
    • English: The United Nations is drafting a resolution on the ethics of artificial intelligence.
    • Analysis: Shows the term's use on an international, diplomatic level.
  • Example 9:
    • 我们需要先起草一个基本框架，然后再讨论细节。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào xiān qǐcǎo yīgè jīběn kuàngjià, ránhòu zài tǎolùn xìjié.
    • English: We need to first draft a basic framework, and then we can discuss the details.
    • Analysis: This highlights the preliminary nature of the `起草` stage. It creates the “framework” (`框架, kuàngjià`) first.
  • Example 10:
    • 这份协议是由双方共同起草的。
    • Pinyin: Zhè fèn xiéyì shì yóu shuāngfāng gòngtóng qǐcǎo de.
    • English: This agreement was jointly drafted by both parties.
    • Analysis: `由…起草 (yóu…qǐcǎo)` is a common formal structure to indicate who performed the drafting. `共同 (gòngtóng)` means “jointly.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Using `起草` for informal writing.
    • A common error for learners is to use `起草` for any act of writing. It is too formal for casual contexts.
    • Incorrect: 我要起草一个购物清单。(Wǒ yào qǐcǎo yīgè gòuwù qīngdān.) - I need to draft a shopping list.
    • Correct: 我要写一个购物清单。(Wǒ yào xiě yīgè gòuwù qīngdān.) - I need to write a shopping list.
    • Rule: Use `写 (xiě)` for general writing, and `起草 (qǐcǎo)` only for formal documents.
  • Mistake 2: Confusing the verb `起草` with the noun “a draft.”
    • In English, “draft” can be a verb (“to draft”) or a noun (“a draft”). In Chinese, 起草 (qǐcǎo) is only a verb.
    • Incorrect: 这是我的起草。(Zhè shì wǒ de qǐcǎo.) - This is my draft.
    • Correct: 这是我的草稿。(Zhè shì wǒ de cǎogǎo.) - This is my rough draft.
    • Correct (more formal): 这是这份计划的草案。(Zhè shì zhè fèn jìhuà de cǎo'àn.) - This is the draft of the plan.
    • Rule: Use `草稿 (cǎogǎo)` for a general “rough draft” and `草案 (cǎo'àn)` for a formal “draft” of a plan or law. Use `起草 (qǐcǎo)` for the action of creating it.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 草案 (cǎo'àn) - Noun. The formal “draft” of a law, plan, or regulation. This is the output of the verb `起草`.
  • 草稿 (cǎogǎo) - Noun. A “rough draft” of any piece of writing, from an email to an essay. It's more general and less formal than `草案`.
  • 拟定 (nǐdìng) - Verb. A very formal synonym for `起草`, meaning “to draw up” or “to formulate.” Often used interchangeably with `起草` in legal and government documents.
  • 制定 (zhìdìng) - Verb. To “formulate,” “lay down,” or “enact” (a plan, policy, law). This implies a more finalized process than `起草`. You `起草` a draft, but you `制定` the final policy.
  • 撰写 (zhuànxiě) - Verb. A formal term for “to write” or “compose,” often used for lengthy or scholarly works like articles, reports, or books. It focuses on the act of composing the text itself.
  • 编写 (biānxiě) - Verb. To “compile” or “write.” It often implies gathering information and organizing it into a text, such as a textbook (`编写教材`) or software documentation.
  • 合同 (hétong) - Noun. A contract; one of the most common types of documents that is `起草`'d.
  • 文件 (wénjiàn) - Noun. A document; the general category of item that is `起草`'d.
  • 计划 (jìhuà) - Noun. A plan; another common document that is `起草`'d.