书面 (shū miàn) — in writing; written | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to language or communication in written form, as opposed to spoken. Pairs naturally with 口头 (oral/spoken) and modifies nouns like 协议, 证明, 材料.

adjective

in writingwritten

书面。
Qǐng tí gōng yí fèn shū miàn zhèng míng.
Please provide a written certificate.
书面。
Shuāng fāng qiān dìng le shū miàn xié yì.
Both parties signed a written agreement.
书面。
Zhè cì kǎo shì bāo kuò shū miàn hé kǒu shì liǎng bù fen.
This exam includes both written and oral parts.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

书 (writing) and 面 (surface) combine to mean a written form rather than spoken.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

聿聿yùwriting brush

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

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