文件 (wén jiàn) — document; file | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

General term for a 'document' or 'file' — everyday use for paperwork, official papers, or computer files. 文档 is more tied to digital/computer files; 档案 is archived records.

noun

documentfile

Measure word · 份

Examples

文件。
Wǒ zuó tiān shōu dào le yí gè zhòng yào de wén jiàn.
I received an important document yesterday.
文件，。
Zhè ge wén jiàn tài dà le, dǎ bù kāi.
This file is too big to open.
文件。
Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn dǎ yìn chū lái.
Please print this document.

Origin

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.

文wénwriting

文 refers to writing, and 件 to an item, so it names an item of writing.

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.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

人人rénman
牛牛niúcow

件 is made of 人, 'man', and 牛, 'cow'.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 4 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Reading & Writing 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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