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甲骨文 (jiǎ gǔ wén) — oracle-bone inscriptions; the earliest form of Chinese writing from the Shang dynasty

Definition

The earliest known Chinese writing: characters carved on turtle shells and animal bones for divination in the Shang dynasty. A technical term in archaeology and paleography — not interchangeable with general "ancient script."

noun
oracle-bone inscriptionsthe earliest form of Chinese writing from the Shang dynasty

Examples

  • 甲骨文。
    Kǎo gǔ xué jiā fā xiàn le xǔ duō jiǎ gǔ wén.
    Archaeologists discovered many oracle-bone inscriptions.
  • 甲骨文。
    jiǎ gǔ wén Shì yán jiū shāng cháo lì shǐ de zhòng yào zī liào.
    Oracle-bone inscriptions are important materials for researching Shang dynasty history.
  • 甲骨文。
    Tā zài dà xué lǐ zhuān mén xué xí jiǎ gǔ wén.
    He studies oracle-bone inscriptions as a specialty in university.

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