How to say "manuscript" in Japanese

• 原稿げんこうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe word for a manuscript as a piece of writing an author prepares and submits — copy for publication; it also covers 'draft' in that same context, as in finishing or sending off a manuscript.
  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.
• 写本しゃほんCommon
  nounCovers 'manuscript' in the sense of a hand-written copy of a book — a codex — the thing libraries and scholars mean by manuscripts; not a writer's submission.
  コズビの議論ぎろんはヘッテ写本しゃほんの信頼性しんらいせいに関かんするものである。↗

  Cosby's argument concerns the reliability of the Hette Manuscript.
• 稿こうCommon
  noun, suru verbBare 稿 can mean a manuscript, version or draft, but standing alone it is seldom the word you want; in practice you encounter it inside 原稿 and 草稿, which are the words to use.
  彼かれは最終さいしゅう稿こうに忙いそがしく取り組とりくんでいる。↗

  He is busy with the final draft.
• 草稿そうこうCommon
  nounChiefly a draft: a rough, preliminary version of a text (or notes), before revision; 'manuscript' is only a marginal rendering, and for a finished piece 原稿 is the word.
  私は演説えんぜつの草稿そうこうを作つくった。↗

  I made a draft of my speech.

Use 原稿 for a manuscript as writing submitted for publication, 写本 for a hand-copied book or codex, 草稿 for a rough draft, and treat 稿 as an element of those longer words rather than a standalone choice.

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

• 原稿げんこうmanuscript
• 写本しゃほんmanuscript (book)
• 稿こうmanuscript
• 草稿そうこうnotes
• 手稿しゅこうmanuscript
• 稿本こうほんmanuscript
• マニュスクリプトmanuscript