草案

cǎo’àn

draft (legislation, proposal etc)

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Understanding 草案 (cǎo àn)

The word 草案 refers to a preliminary draft or proposal, commonly used in formal contexts such as legislation, contracts, or project plans. It implies that the document is not final and is subject to review and revision.

Usage in Context

草案 is often used when discussing legal or official documents that are still in the planning or negotiation stage. For example, a government might release a 草案 of a new law for public comment before finalizing it.

Common Collocations

These collocations highlight 草案’s role as a preliminary version of an important document.

Tips

When using 草案, remember it always refers to something tentative and incomplete. Avoid using it to describe final or official documents. Also, 草案 is typically a noun and appears after the noun it modifies (e.g., 法律草案).

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 草案 with 正式文件 (official document) or 方案 (plan/solution), as 草案 specifically emphasizes the draft or preliminary nature.

Example Sentences

政府正在讨论新的环保法律草案。

Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài tǎolùn xīn de huánbǎo fǎlǜ cǎo'àn.

The government is discussing the new environmental protection law draft.

这份合同草案还需要律师审核。

Zhè fèn hétong cǎo'àn hái xūyào lǜshī shěnhé.

This contract draft still needs to be reviewed by a lawyer.

我们先写一个项目计划的草案,然后再修改。

Wǒmen xiān xiě yí gè xiàngmù jìhuà de cǎo'àn, ránhòu zài xiūgǎi.

We first write a draft of the project plan, then revise it.