Definitions

wén (noun) writing; literature
wén (noun) language; culture
wén (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 began as a pictograph depicting a person with intersecting lines on the chest, representing ancient decorative tattoos or body painting. This concept of applying patterns to the body gradually extended to artificial markings, written symbols, and ultimately the entire system of written language. Its meaning also broadened to encompass literature, culture, civilization, and the arts, concepts standing in contrast to military or martial affairs. The modern form consists of a top dot and horizontal stroke above two crossing diagonal sweeps, visually echoing the symmetrical intersecting patterns found in early script.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢中

Wǒ xǐhuān zhōngwén.

I like Chinese.

他学习英

Tā xuéxí yīngwén.

He studies English.

这篇章很好。

Zhè piān wénzhāng hěn hǎo.

This article is very good.

学是我的爱好。

Wénxué shì wǒ de àihào.

Literature is my hobby.

化差异很大。

Wénhuà chāyì hěn dà.

Cultural differences are significant.

他擅长科科目。

Tā shàncháng wénkē kēmù.

He is good at humanities subjects.

我们需要明交流。

Wǒmen xūyào wénmíng jiāoliú.

We need to communicate civilly.

这篇笔优美。

Zhè piān wénzhāng wénbǐ yōuměi.

This article is elegantly written.