Definitions
(noun)
writing; literature
(noun)
language; culture
(adjective)
gentle; refined
Etymology
Pictograph of a man with writing (possibly a tattoo) on his chest. In later scripts the writing was abbreviated to a dot or omitted altogether.
About
The character "文" finds its origin in the concept of ornamental pattern, initially referring to decorative markings such as tattoos upon the human body, which established its fundamental association with designed appearance. This inherent idea of intentional patterning naturally extended to the systematic symbols of written language, leading the character to denote written characters, texts, and documents. Over time, its semantic field widened considerably to encompass the collective achievements of human intellect and society, including literature, scholarly learning, cultural refinement, and the sphere of civil administration, often placed in classical opposition to military matters. Its graphic form, while stabilized into a simple configuration of strokes in modern usage, abstractly preserves the notion of a figure with embellishments, reflecting the conceptual journey from concrete decoration to the abstract domains of culture and civilized knowledge.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢中文。
他学习英文。
这篇文章很好。
文学是我的爱好。
文化差异很大。
他擅长文科科目。
我们需要文明交流。
这篇文章文笔优美。