How to say "draft" in Japanese

• ドラフトCommon
  nounCovers the baseball sense of 'draft', the annual selection of amateur players by professional teams. This is really a sports term; for drafts of writing or financial drafts other words below are the ones you want.
• 下書きしたがきJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verbA draft or rough copy of something written or drawn, made before the finished version. It is the natural everyday word for sketching out a plan, essay, or picture before polishing it.
  私はスピーチの下書したがきを書かいています。↗

  I am writing a draft of the speech.
• 手形てがたCommon
  nounIn business and finance, a draft in the sense of a promissory note or bill of exchange payable at a set date. Use it only for this commercial sense, never for drafts of writing.
  手形てがたは来月らいげつ１日にちが支払日しはらいびになっている。↗

  The bill is due on the 1st of next month.
• 為替かわせJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA financial word covering money orders and drafts, that is, instruments for transferring money, especially foreign exchange. It is the word for banking contexts, not for versions of a text.
  この為替かわせを作つくるのに銀行ぎんこうの手数料てすうりょうが５０ドルかかった。↗

  Arranging this money order cost $50 in bank fees and commissions.
• 原稿げんこうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA manuscript or draft of a written work such as an article, book, or speech. Choose this when talking about text submitted to an editor or publisher; it also simply means manuscript or copy.
  この原稿げんこうは書き直かきなおしたほうがいいな。↗

  I'd better rewrite this paper.

Use 「下書き」 or 原稿 for a preliminary version of writing, 「ドラフト」 for the sports player-selection draft, and 手形 or 為替 for the financial sense of a bill of exchange.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ドラフトdraft (esp. in baseball)
• 下書きしたがきdraft
• 手形てがたdraft
• 為替かわせmoney order
• 原稿げんこうmanuscript
• 風かぜwind
• 草案そうあんdraft (for a speech, bill, etc.)
• 文案ぶんあんdraft (of a document)
• 案文あんぶんdraft
• 素案そあんrough plan
• 通風つうふうventilation
• 草稿そうこうnotes
• 稿こうmanuscript
• 原案げんあんoriginal plan
• 草そうdraft
• 草するそうするto draft
• 下書げしょdraft
• 隙間風すきまかぜdraft
• 検討図けんとうずdraft (drawing, plan, etc.)
• 抜きしろぬきしろdraft (in casting)
• 喫水きっすいsea gauge
• 為替手形かわせてがたbill of exchange
• 吹き通しふきとおしblowing through
• 非熱処理ひねつしょりunpasteurized (beer)
• 徴兵令ちょうへいれいconscription ordinance
• 徴兵ちょうへいconscription
• 案あんdraft
• 一口ひとくちgulp
• 振り出しふりだしdrawing (e.g. of a bill)
• 底本ていほんdraft
• 船足ふなあしdraft
• ラフrough (sketch)