謄 (téng) - To copy out & to transcribe

謄Tone 2

téng ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

謄 · téng

To copy out;

to transcribe;

to make a fair copy of a document.

To copy outto transcribeto make a fair copy of a document.

Usage highlights

To copy outFair copyDuplicate copyTo transcribeCopying workTo copy neatly

Synonyms

  • 抄— to copy; to transcribe
  • 写— to write
  • 录— to record; to copy down

Antonyms

  • 删— to delete; to remove
  • 改— to alter; to modify

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please copy this document neatly (謄写这份文件).
  • They made a duplicate copy of the contract (合同謄本).
  • The manuscript needs to be transcribed (手稿需要謄清).
  • He is copying the text by hand (他正在謄录文本).

Collocations

  • To copy out(謄写)
  • Fair copy(謄清稿)
  • Duplicate copy(謄本)
  • To transcribe(謄录)
  • Copying work(謄稿)
  • To copy neatly(謄正)

Idioms

  • To copy out and submit(謄黄)
  • To make a clean copy(謄真)
  • To transcribe and edit(謄缮)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically important in bureaucratic and scholarly contexts where documents needed accurate reproduction before printing technology.
  • Associated with the imperial examination system where candidates had to produce clean copies of their essays.
  • Reflects the traditional Chinese emphasis on calligraphy and neat handwriting in official documents.

FAQ