原文（げんぶん、genbuん）
- original text

The word 原文 （げんぶん, *genbun*) refers to the original text, the source text, or the original document. It's the unedited, unaltered version of a piece of writing. It can apply to various forms of text, including books, articles, documents, and scripts. It represents the authentic or primary source before any revisions, translations, or modifications. ⚫︎ It highlights the importance of the initial state of the written material. ⚫︎ It conveys the idea of an unaltered, or the true state. ⚫︎ It is often contrasted with a translation or a modified version.

⚫︎この論文は、原文と翻訳の両方で読めます。 Translation: This paper can be read in both the original text and the translation. ⚫︎原文を忠実に再現するように翻訳しました。 Translation: I translated it to faithfully reproduce the original text. ⚫︎彼の話は原文とは少し異なっていた。 Translation: His story was slightly different from the original.

You use 原文 when discussing the original version of a written work, especially in contexts involving translation, comparison of versions, or referencing the source. ⚫︎ It is used when comparing 原文 with a translation. ⚫︎ It is used when discussing about the authenticity of the content. ⚫︎ It’s useful when discussing research or academic works.

原文 is typically written in kanji. ⚫︎ Reading: げんぶん (hiragana). ⚫︎ No variations in okurigana. ⚫︎ Rarely, you might encounter it written in katakana, but that's uncommon and for emphasis.

⚫︎ オリジナル (*orijinaru*) - original (borrowed word) ⚫︎ 原本 (*genpon*) - original document ⚫︎ オリジナルテキスト (*orijinaru tekisuto*) - original text (borrowed word)

⚫︎ 翻訳 (*hon'yaku*) - translation ⚫︎ 改訂版 (*kaiteiban*) - revised edition ⚫︎ 修正版 (*shūseiban*) - corrected version

この本の原文は英語で書かれています。 ・Translation: The original text of this book is written in English. ・Explanation: This sentence clarifies that the source language of the book is English.

翻訳の際には、原文の意味を正確に理解することが重要です。 ・Translation: When translating, it's important to understand the meaning of the original text accurately. ・Explanation: This highlights the importance of understanding the original content when translating.

The word 原文 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎ 原 (*gen*) - meaning "original, source." ⚫︎ 文 (*bun*) - meaning "text, writing." Therefore, 原文 literally means "original text."