jiàoduì: 校对 - To Proofread, Collate, Check (Text)

• Keywords: jiaodui, jiào duì, 校对, proofread in Chinese, how to say proofread in Chinese, jiaodui meaning, 校对 meaning, collate text, Chinese editor, check document Chinese, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the precise meaning of 校对 (jiàoduì), the essential Chinese verb for “to proofread” or “collate.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in professional and academic settings, and practical usage. Learn the critical difference between 校对 (jiàoduì) and the general verb “to check” (检查, jiǎnchá) through clear examples, ensuring you sound more accurate and professional in your written and spoken Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiào duì
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To proofread or collate text by carefully comparing it against a source or standard to find and correct errors.
• In a Nutshell: 校对 (jiàoduì) isn't just a quick glance. It's the meticulous, final quality-control step for any written document. Think of it as the act of comparing a text line-by-line against the original or simply scanning for typos, grammatical errors, and formatting mistakes before it's published, submitted, or sent. It carries a sense of precision and professionalism.

• 校 (jiào): While this character most famously means “school” (when pronounced xiào), here it's pronounced jiào and means “to check,” “to compare,” or “to proof.” This meaning is rooted in the idea of comparing things against a standard.
• 对 (duì): This character means “correct,” “right,” or “to face/to match up with.” It implies agreement and accuracy.

When combined, 校对 (jiàoduì) literally means “to check for correctness” or “to compare and make right.” The two characters perfectly capture the essence of proofreading: comparing a document to ensure it is correct.

While “proofreading” is a universal concept, the term 校对 (jiàoduì) reflects the high value placed on precision and accuracy in Chinese written communication, especially in formal, academic, and business contexts. In a culture with a deep history of scholarship and official documentation, ensuring a text is free of errors (错别字, cuòbiézì - typos) is a sign of diligence, respect, and professionalism. A useful Western comparison is the difference between a casual “check” and a formal “audit.” In English, you might casually say, “Can you check my email?” which could mean anything from a quick glance to a detailed review. Using 校对 (jiàoduì) is like asking for an audit of the text; it signals a request for a thorough, systematic review specifically for errors in the script itself, not necessarily the core ideas. It’s a task for a detail-oriented eye, and in professional settings, it is a dedicated role (校对员, jiàoduì yuán - a proofreader).

校对 (jiàoduì) is a common and essential term in any field involving written materials.

• In the Workplace: This is the standard term used in publishing houses (出版社, chūbǎnshè), marketing departments, and translation companies. An editor might tell a junior staff member: “请把这份合同校对一下” (Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn hétong jiàoduì yīxià - “Please proofread this contract”).
• In Academia: Students and professors use it constantly. Before submitting a thesis (论文, lùnwén), a student will spend a lot of time on 校对 or ask a classmate for help.
• As a Noun: The word can also function as a noun to refer to the *act* or *job* of proofreading. For example, “我的工作是校对” (Wǒ de gōngzuò shì jiàoduì - “My job is proofreading”).

The term is generally neutral and formal, but can be used in slightly less formal contexts among friends or colleagues, like asking someone to check an important email before you send it.

• Example 1:
  • 在提交报告前，我需要仔细校对一遍。
  • Pinyin: Zài tíjiāo bàogào qián, wǒ xūyào zǐxì jiàoduì yī biàn.
  • English: Before submitting the report, I need to carefully proofread it one time.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 校对 as a verb for a formal document. The adverb 仔细 (zǐxì - carefully) often accompanies it.
• Example 2:
  • 你能帮我校对一下这篇中文翻译吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiàoduì yīxià zhè piān Zhōngwén fānyì ma?
  • English: Can you help me proofread this Chinese translation?
  • Analysis: Shows a common request for help. The “一下 (yīxià)” softens the request, making it a bit more casual.
• Example 3:
  • 这本书的校对工作是谁负责的？错误太多了！
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū de jiàoduì gōngzuò shì shéi fùzé de? Cuòwù tài duō le!
  • English: Who was responsible for the proofreading of this book? There are too many mistakes!
  • Analysis: Here, 校对 is used as part of a noun phrase, “校对工作” (proofreading work), to refer to the task itself.
• Example 4:
  • 他在一家出版社当校对员。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài yī jiā chūbǎnshè dāng jiàoduìyuán.
  • English: He works as a proofreader at a publishing house.
  • Analysis: This shows the related term 校对员 (jiàoduìyuán), which means “proofreader” (the person).
• Example 5:
  • 请将修改稿与原稿进行校对。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jiāng xiūgǎi gǎo yǔ yuángǎo jìnxíng jiàoduì.
  • English: Please collate the revised draft against the original draft.
  • Analysis: This highlights the “collate” meaning of 校对, where two versions are compared against each other. The structure “将 A 与 B 进行校对” is very formal.
• Example 6:
  • 如果不校对，你的邮件里可能会有 embarrassing 的错别字。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ bù jiàoduì, nǐ de yóujiàn lǐ kěnéng huì yǒu embarrassing de cuòbiézì.
  • English: If you don't proofread, your email might have embarrassing typos.
  • Analysis: A practical warning. It shows how 校对 is the action that prevents 错别字 (cuòbiézì - typos).
• Example 7:
  • 我们的团队需要一个更严格的校对流程。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de tuánduì xūyào yī gè gèng yángé de jiàoduì liúchéng.
  • English: Our team needs a stricter proofreading process.
  • Analysis: 校对 is used as a noun here, modifying “流程” (liúchéng - process).
• Example 8:
  • 我已经校对了两遍，应该没问题了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng jiàoduì le liǎng biàn, yīnggāi méi wèntí le.
  • English: I've already proofread it twice, it should be fine now.
  • Analysis: The measure word for the action of proofreading is 遍 (biàn), meaning “times” or “all the way through.”
• Example 9:
  • 最终版本在打印前必须经过三次校对。
  • Pinyin: Zuìzhōng bǎnběn zài dǎyìn qián bìxū jīngguò sān cì jiàoduì.
  • English: The final version must go through three rounds of proofreading before printing.
  • Analysis: Here, 校对 is a noun referring to the “rounds” of the proofreading process. 次 (cì) is also used for “times.”
• Example 10:
  • 他校对文本的速度非常快，而且很准确。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiàoduì wénběn de sùdù fēicháng kuài, érqiě hěn zhǔnquè.
  • English: His speed at proofreading texts is very fast, and he's also very accurate.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes someone's skill at the task of 校对.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 校对 (jiàoduì) with 检查 (jiǎnchá).

• 校对 (jiàoduì): To proofread/collate TEXT. This is specific. It's about finding typos, grammatical errors, or discrepancies in written words.
• 检查 (jiǎnchá): To check/inspect/examine ANYTHING. This is a general-purpose verb. You can check your homework, check your car's engine, check your health, or check if the door is locked.

You can use 检查 for text, but it's more general. “检查一下这篇文章” (jiǎnchá yīxià zhè piān wénzhāng) could mean checking the facts, the tone, or the typos. 校对 is only for the typos and textual accuracy. Incorrect Usage Examples:

• Incorrect: 医生在校对我的身体。 (Yīshēng zài jiàoduì wǒ de shēntǐ.) → The doctor is proofreading my body.
• Correct: 医生在检查我的身体。 (Yīshēng zài jiǎnchá wǒ de shēntǐ.) → The doctor is examining my body.
• Incorrect: 出门前，请校对门窗。 (Chūmén qián, qǐng jiàoduì ménchuāng.) → Before leaving, please proofread the doors and windows.
• Correct: 出门前，请检查门窗。 (Chūmén qián, qǐng jiǎnchá ménchuāng.) → Before leaving, please check the doors and windows.

Think of it this way: a teacher might 检查 your essay for ideas and arguments, but they will 校对 it for spelling and grammar mistakes.

• 检查 (jiǎnchá) - The general verb “to check” or “to inspect.” 校对 is a specific type of 检查.
• 审核 (shěnhé) - To audit, review, or verify, often for approval. This is about content and compliance, a step above proofreading.
• 修改 (xiūgǎi) - To revise, amend, or modify. This is the action you take *after* 校对 reveals an error.
• 编辑 (biānjí) - To edit. A broader role than a proofreader, involving improving style, structure, and flow, not just correcting errors.
• 错别字 (cuòbiézì) - A typo or an incorrectly used character. This is the primary target you are looking for during 校对.
• 草稿 (cǎogǎo) - A draft. The document that requires 校对 before becoming a final version.
• 校对员 (jiàoduì yuán) - A proofreader; the person whose job is to 校对.
• 出版 (chūbǎn) - To publish. The final step after all editing and proofreading is complete.