What's the difference between 参考【さんこう】 and 参照【さんしょう】?


These two words, 参考【さんこう】 and 参照【さんしょう】, seem to be very similar in meaning,
and I'm not sure of the difference. They do seem in my experience to be used a
bit differently, however. For example:

>   * 参照する seems more common than 参考する
>   * But 参考にする seems more common than 参照にする
>   * And 参考になる more common than 参照になる
>   * And the keigo form ご参照ください seems more common than ご参考ください
>

Do the meanings of these words differ significantly? Or is it just a
differentiation in usage?

By extension, when talking about my own intentions to consider something (e.g.
something like 「○○を参照するつもりです」 or 「○○を参考にするつもりです」), which of these is
preferred?




参照 means actually reading the reference, while 参考 generally refers to using
existing knowledge/idea. I.e. 参照 is narrower than 参考; everything that can be
参照ed can be of 参考, but not everything that can be of 参考 can be 参照ed. E.g. your
experience leading a project would be of 参考 when leading another project, but
you won't be able to 参照 it because it's not something you can literary read.
Conversely, if someone is operating a nuclear power plant you want that person
to 参照 the user manual rather than taking the user manual into 参考; 参照 would
imply he'll follow it to the letter, whereas 参考 leaves some room for
improvisation.

> 参照する seems more common than 参考する

参考する is not natural.

> 参考にする seems more common than 参照にする

参照にする is not natural.

> 参考になる more common than 参照になる

参照になる is not natural.

> the keigo form ご参照ください seems more common then ご参考ください

It would be ご参考にしてください, but this can only be used by someone of higher rank
than the audience as it sounds condescending. Asking somebody to literary look
up the reference is OK (e.g. please see page 30 in the usage manual), whereas
asking someone to take something into consideration can sound more impolite
(e.g. please take our best practice into consideration).

> By extension, when talking about my own intentions to consider something
> (e.g. something like 「○○を参照するつもりです」 or 「○○を参考にするつもりです」), which of these is
> preferred?

If you mean you are literary going to look something up, use 参照 whereas if you
are referring to your general intention to consider something, use 参考.




参照 means actually reading the reference, while 参考 generally refers to using
existing knowledge/idea. I.e. 参照 is narrower than 参考; everything that can be
参照ed can be of 参考, but not everything that can be of 参考 can be 参照ed. E.g. your
experience leading a project would be of 参考 when leading another project, but
you won't be able to 参照 it because it's not something you can literary read.
Conversely, if someone is operating a nuclear power plant you want that person
to 参照 the user manual rather than taking the user manual into 参考; 参照 would
imply he'll follow it to the letter, whereas 参考 leaves some room for
improvisation.

> 参照する seems more common than 参考する

参考する is not natural.

> 参考にする seems more common than 参照にする

参照にする is not natural.

> 参考になる more common than 参照になる

参照になる is not natural.

> the keigo form ご参照ください seems more common then ご参考ください

It would be ご参考にしてください, but this can only be used by someone of higher rank
than the audience as it sounds condescending. Asking somebody to literary look
up the reference is OK (e.g. please see page 30 in the usage manual), whereas
asking someone to take something into consideration can sound more impolite
(e.g. please take our best practice into consideration).

> By extension, when talking about my own intentions to consider something
> (e.g. something like 「○○を参照するつもりです」 or 「○○を参考にするつもりです」), which of these is
> preferred?

If you mean you are literary going to look something up, use 参照 whereas if you
are referring to your general intention to consider something, use 参考.

