1.
reference, consultation, cross-reference
The act of looking at or consulting materials, documents, or other sources for information. Frequently used as a direction to the reader meaning 'see' or 'refer to.'
詳しくは下記を参照してください。
Please refer to the information below for details.
資料を参照しながらレポートを書いた。
I wrote the report while consulting the reference materials.
添付ファイルをご参照ください。
Please see the attached file.
Also functions as a する verb (参照する). Very common in business emails, academic writing, technical documentation, and manuals. Often seen in parenthetical directions such as （下記参照）meaning '(see below).'
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 参照してください — please refer to
- ご参照ください — please see (polite)
- 資料を参照する — to consult materials
- 参照先 — reference destination/source
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 参考 — reference, for one's information (broader, more casual)
- 閲覧 — viewing, browsing (formal, for documents)