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To compare a translated or modified text with the original version to verify accuracy or consistency.
编辑会对照原文修改错误。
The editor will compare the text with the original to correct errors.
翻译时必须对照原文，不能随意发挥。
You must compare the translation with the original text and not improvise freely.
Commonly used in translation, proofreading, and academic writing to ensure fidelity to the source material.
Do not confuse 对照原文 with 照搬原文 ('copy verbatim from the original'). The former implies comparison and verification, while the latter means blind copying without adaptation.
Use this phrase when emphasizing the importance of checking or aligning with the original text for accuracy, consistency, or authenticity. It is not used for casual reading or informal comparisons.
The phrase combines 对照 (duì zhào, 'to compare/contrast') and 原文 (yuán wén, 'original text'). 对照 originates from 对 ('facing/toward') + 照 ('to shine/reflect'), implying a direct comparison. 原文 is a compound of 原 ('original') + 文 ('text/writing'). The phrase emerged in modern Chinese, likely influenced by translation practices in the 20th century.
1. Often used in contexts requiring precision, such as translation, legal drafting, or academic research. 2. The verb 对照 is transitive and requires an object (e.g., 对照原文). 3. In formal writing, it may be shortened to 对照文 or 核对原文 in some contexts.