TongTong
Sign in

文字 (wén zì) — written characters; script; writing (the symbols of a writing system); literary style; wording; phraseology (how language is used in writing)

Definition

文字 refers to the written symbols of a language (characters, script). Less common meaning: literary style or wording — narrower than 文辞, which emphasizes expression.

noun
written charactersscriptwriting (the symbols of a writing system)literary stylewordingphraseology (how language is used in writing)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 文字。
    Tā rèn shi hěn duō gǔ dài wén zì.
    He knows many ancient characters.
  • 文字，。
    Zhè běn shū de wén zì hěn qīng chǔ, róng yì kàn dǒng.
    This book's writing is very clear and easy to understand.
  • 文字，。
    Tā de wén zì hěn yǒu wèi dào, dú qǐ lái hěn shū fu.
    His writing has a lot of flavor — it's very comfortable to read.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

文wénwritten symbol
字zìcharacter

文 and 字 both refer to written symbols, so together they mean script or characters.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

Open 文 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4LanguageReading & Writing

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.