池谷大星：科学技術用語: April 2008

The word manual can be defined as follows:

マニュアル, 取扱説明書, 操作説明書, 手引き, 手引き書, 手順書, 解説書, 指導書, 教則本, 案内書, 便覧, 要覧, 規程[基準, 指針](書), □要領

The word guide can be defined as follows:

旅行[観光]案内書, 手引き書, 便覧, ハンドブック, マニュアル, 取扱説明書

As you can see, a manual and a guide may seem to be the same thing at times--especially in Japanese.

Now, lets check the English definition for guide:

Something, such as a pamphlet, that offers basic information or instruction.

And, the English definition for manual:

A small reference book, especially one giving instructions.

Basically, a guide is simpler than a manual and may cover information in a very basic way. Conversely, a manual can be quite detailed and may even be a very thick book that would take days if not weeks to finish reading (but not always).

Recently, a document I checked recently used the word マニュアル in the Japanese original. However, the so-called manual was only two or three pages long. This is not what I would call a manual! I edited the translation and changed the word manual to guide.

A good example for understanding the difference would be to compare a a driver's guide with an owner's manual.

A driver's guide might tell us how to enjoy the many functions of a new car. If I want to go on a cross-country drive, I will refer to my driver's guide. Such a guide might also have some maps and offer some advice on the best route to take. Some guides are published in a pamphlet or brochure format.

An owner's manual might tell us how things work and how they're intended to be used. If I want to change a tire, change the oil, or replace a fuse, I will refer to the owner's manual. Such a manual might likely be thick, have CAD drawings, and provide technical information in great detail, and often published in a book format.

Manuals: http://www.repairmanual.com/automobiles/

Guides: http://tinyurl.com/3g6b6e

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池谷大星：科学技術用語

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Guide vs Manual