Readings: ブン, モン (Onyomi), ふみ, あや (Kunyomi)
Meaning: sentence, writing, literature, culture, style
This kanji is a pictograph of a person with patterns drawn on their chest. It originally represented patterns or designs, which then extended to written patterns or characters, eventually leading to meanings like writing, literature, and sentences.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 文 has 4 strokes. It begins with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the left-falling stroke, then the right-falling stroke, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke connecting the two falling strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 文 (ぶん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 1 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ブン (Bun)
- モン (Mon)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ふみ (fumi)
- あや (aya)
Common Words Using 文
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 文化 | ぶんか | culture |
| 文学 | ぶんがく | literature |
| 文法 | ぶんぽう | grammar |
| 作文 | さくぶん | essay, composition |
| 文章 | ぶんしょう | sentence, passage |
| 文字 | もじ | character, letter |
| 文句 | もんく | complaint, phrase |
| 英文 | えいぶん | English sentence/text |
| 論文 | ろんぶん | thesis, dissertation |
| 新聞 | しんぶん | newspaper |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 文 | ふみ | letter; writings (literary/historical) |
| 文 | あや | pattern; design; figure (literary/poetic) |
| 文月 | ふみづき | July (traditional name) |
| 文箱 | ふばこ | letter box (historical) |
| 文机 | ふづくえ | writing desk (historical) |
| 文飾り | あやかざり | patterned decoration (less common) |
| 文の道 | ふみのみち | path of literature/scholarship (phrase) |
| 文に触れる | ふみにふれる | to touch on literature/writings (phrase) |
| 文を読む | ふみをよむ | to read a letter/writings (phrase) |
| 文を交わす | ふみをかわす | to exchange letters (phrase) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 日本の文化に興味があります。
Kana: にほんのぶんかにきょうみがあります。
Romaji: Nihon no bunka ni kyōmi ga arimasu.
English: I am interested in Japanese culture.
Japanese: この文章はとても分かりやすいです。
Kana: このぶんしょうはとてもわかりやすいです。
Romaji: Kono bunshō wa totemo wakariyasui desu.
English: This sentence/passage is very easy to understand.
Japanese: 宿題で作文を書きました。
Kana: しゅくだいでさくぶんをかきました。
Romaji: Shukudai de sakubun o kakimashita.
English: I wrote an essay for homework.
Japanese: 新聞を毎日読みます。
Kana: しんぶんをまいにちよみます。
Romaji: Shinbun o mainichi yomimasu.
English: I read the newspaper every day.
Japanese: 日本語の文法は難しいです。
Kana: にほんごのぶんぽうはむずかしいです。
Romaji: Nihongo no bunpō wa muzukashii desu.
English: Japanese grammar is difficult.
Japanese: 彼は文学を専攻しています。
Kana: かれはぶんがくをせんこうしています。
Romaji: Kare wa bungaku o senkō shiteimasu.
English: He is majoring in literature.
Japanese: この文の使い方が正しいですか？
Kana: このぶんのつかいかたがただしいですか？
Romaji: Kono bun no tsukaikata ga tadashii desu ka?
English: Is the usage of this sentence correct?
Japanese: 漢字を覚えるために、文字をたくさん書きます。
Kana: かんじをおぼえるために、もじをたくさんかきます。
Romaji: Kanji o oboeru tame ni, moji o takusan kakimasu.
English: I write many characters to remember kanji.
Japanese: 昔、彼女に文を送りました。
Kana: むかし、かのじょにふみをおくりました。
Romaji: Mukashi, kanojo ni fumi o okurimashita.
English: Long ago, I sent her a letter.
Japanese: 先生は私たちに文句を言いました。
Kana: せんせいはわたしたちにもんくをいいました。
Romaji: Sensei wa watashitachi ni monku o iimashita.
English: The teacher complained to us.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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