用中文解释什么是“稿子”

What does “稿子” (gǎozi) mean in Chinese?

稿子 (gǎozi) means a draft, script, or prepared text — specifically the written content you hold and read aloud from, rather than speaking off the top of your head. A student reading from notes in class is 拿着稿子读 (ná zhe gǎozi dú). A TV presenter with a teleprompter is reading their 稿子. The root 稿 originally meant a straw or draft manuscript; the suffix 子 (zi) makes it a concrete, everyday noun.

The clip’s setup is funny: the speaker is recording a video assignment, wearing a formal top over her pajama trousers — and she’s reading from a 稿子 because the English is too hard to memorise. She explains: 稿子一般指的就是提前写好的内容、草稿、文字材料 (“稿子 generally means content written in advance, a draft, written material”). The related word 草稿 (cǎogǎo) is a rougher early draft, while 讲稿 (jiǎnggǎo) specifically means a speech script. Journalists, presenters, and students all use 稿子 naturally.