‘批注’ (pī zhù) is a noun meaning ‘annotation’ or ‘marginal comment’—a brief explanatory or evaluative note written in the margin of a text, such as a book, essay, or student assignment. The character 批 (pī) means ‘to criticize’, ‘to review’, or ‘to comment on’, often with authority or scholarly intent; 注 (zhù) means ‘to annotate’, ‘to explain’, or ‘to note down’. Together, 批注 emphasizes a thoughtful, often pedagogical or editorial response to written material—not just passive highlighting, but active engagement through commentary.

This term is especially common in academic, literary, and educational contexts: teachers add 批注 to students’ essays to guide improvement; scholars insert 批注 in classical texts to clarify obscure passages; and editors use them during manuscript revision. Unlike casual notes (笔记), 批注 implies critical insight, contextual interpretation, or constructive feedback. It’s more formal than comments (评论) and more integrated into the text layout than standalone remarks.