汉文 (Hàn wén) — written or literary Chinese; Chinese language and literature; (historical) Emperor Wen of Han (202–157 BCE)

Definition

Two distinct senses: "literary Chinese" (often as opposed to vernacular 白话) and, as 汉文帝, the reign name of a Western Han emperor. The literary sense is the common modern usage.

noun
written or literary ChineseChinese language and literature(historical) Emperor Wen of Han (202–157 BCE)

Examples

  • 汉文，。
    Tā jīng tōng Hàn wén, néng dú dǒng gǔ wén.
    He is proficient in literary Chinese and can read classical texts.
  • 汉文。
    Xué xí Hàn wén duì liǎo jiě zhōng guó wén huà hěn zhòng yào.
    Learning literary Chinese is important for understanding Chinese culture.
  • 汉文。
    Hàn wén Shì xī hàn shí qī de yí wèi hǎo huáng dì.
    Emperor Wen of Han was a good emperor during the Western Han period.

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.

汉hànHan
文wénwriting

汉 names the Han, and 文 gives writing or literature.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 汉 →

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 →

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