1.
prototype, archetype, original model
The earliest form or model from which later versions are developed or derived. Emphasizes the concept of an original design or pattern that serves as a basis for copies or variations.
Common collocations
- 原型を作る (create a prototype)
- 原型をとどめる (retain the original form)
- 原型をとどめない (be damaged beyond recognition)
Usage
Often confused with the homophone 原形 (original form/shape). 原型 emphasizes the concept of a model or template from which other things are derived, while 原形 refers to an object's original physical shape before it was damaged or altered. The expression 原型をとどめない (lit. "not retaining the original form") means something has been damaged or changed so much that it's unrecognizable.