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What is the Kanji for "Sentence"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Sentence", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Sentence" is "文".

This kanji has 3 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Fumi".

Its onyomi readings are "Bun" and "Mon".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "亠" means "Lid" . And The radical "乂" means "Govern" .

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "文" mean in japanese?

"文" means "Sentence" .

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in First Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N4 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

文化: "Culture". The noun '文化 (ぶんか)' refers to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. It encompasses the shared patterns of behavior and interactions, cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that are learned and transmitted within a human group. For example: Japanese culture is very unique - (日本の文化はとてもユニークです). The study of culture is an important part of anthropology - (文化の研究は人類学の重要な部分です).
文字: "Character". The noun '文字 (もじ)' refers to a written symbol, letter or character. This can be a character from a language's alphabet, a logogram, or any other graphic unit used in a writing system. '文字' is used to describe things like Japanese kanji, hiragana and katakana, as well as Latin letters, numbers and other symbols used in written communication. For example: The kanji character for 'big' - (大きい(おおきい)の文字). This book has too many characters on each page - (このほんは一ページに文字が多すぎる).
作文: "Composition". The Japanese noun '作文 (さくぶん)' refers to a written composition or essay. It is commonly used in the context of academic writing assignments, where students are asked to produce a written work on a given topic. '作文' involves organizing thoughts, developing ideas, and presenting them in a structured and coherent manner. For example: I need to write a composition for my Japanese class - (日本語のクラスで作文を書かなければなりません). The teacher assigned us a composition on our summer vacation - (先生は夏休みについての作文を課題として出しました).
: "Sentence". The Japanese noun '文 (ぶん)' means 'sentence'. This word refers to a complete unit of written or spoken language, consisting of one or more clauses. It is often used when talking about the structure of language, grammar, or writing. For example: She wrote a long sentence - (彼女は長い文を書いた). Please read the last sentence again - (最後の文をもう一度読んでください)
文学: "Literature". The Japanese noun '文学 (ぶんがく)' refers to the body of written works in a particular language, period, or country. It encompasses various genres such as poetry, novels, drama, and essays. This term is commonly used to describe the academic study and appreciation of significant literary works. For example: She is a professor of Japanese literature - (彼女は日本文学の教授です). The library has a large collection of classic literature - (図書館には古典文学の大量のコレクションがある).
文章: "Sentence". The Japanese noun '文章 (ぶんしょう)' means 'sentence'. It refers to a complete unit of written language that expresses a thought or idea. A sentence is composed of one or more clauses and typically begins with a capital letter and ends with a punctuation mark. '文章' can also mean 'composition' or 'written text'. For example: This is a long sentence - (これは長い文章です). I wrote a short essay - (私は短い文章を書きました).
注文: "Order". The verbal noun '注文 (ちゅうもん)' means 'order'. This word is used to refer to the act of requesting or placing an order for something, such as food, goods, or services. It can be used in formal business contexts as well as informal everyday situations. For example: I placed an order for a new laptop - (新しいノートパソコンを注文しました). Please take my order - (私の注文をお願いします).
文房具: "Stationery". The Japanese noun '文房具 (ぶんぼうぐ)' refers to stationery or office supplies. This includes items such as pens, pencils, notebooks, envelopes, paper clips, and other tools and materials used for writing and office work. '文房具' is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of stationery items. For example: I need to buy some new stationery - (新しい文房具を買う必要がある). Where can I find stationery? - (文房具はどこにありますか?)
文書: "Document". The Japanese noun '文書 (ぶんしょ)' refers to a written piece of text or paper that contains official or important information. It is used to describe a formal written record or statement, such as a contract, report, or legal document. For example: The company gave me an important document to sign - (会社は私に重要な文書に署名するよう渡しました).
例文: "Example". The Japanese noun '例文 (れいぶん)' means 'example'. It refers to a sentence or passage used to illustrate or demonstrate the use of a word, grammatical rule, or other linguistic concept. Examples are commonly used in language learning materials to provide learners with sample contexts for vocabulary and grammar. For instance: This sentence is an example - (この文章は例文です). The teacher provided many examples - (先生は沢山の例文を示しました).
文明: "Civilization". The Japanese noun '文明 (ぶんめい)' refers to a highly developed state of human social and cultural relations, usually characterized by progress in the arts, sciences, and technology. It describes an advanced stage of societal development, often considered to be superior to or more sophisticated than earlier or less developed states. This term can be used to describe the overall state of human development across the globe, or to refer to the specific cultural and technological achievements of a particular region or people. For example: The ancient Egyptian civilization - (古代エジプト文明). The rise of modern civilization - (文明の発展).
英文: "English sentence". The noun '英文 (えいぶん)' refers to an English sentence or text. It is used to describe written material that is in the English language. For example: Please translate this English sentence into Japanese - (この英文を日本語に翻訳してください).
論文: "Paper". The Japanese noun '論文 (ろんぶん)' refers to an academic paper or article, typically one that presents the results of research or detailed analysis on a particular topic. It is commonly used in the context of scientific, scholarly, or professional writing. For example: She published a research paper - (彼女は論文を発表した). The professor assigned us to write a 10-page paper - (先生は10ページの論文を書くよう課題を出しました).
文句: "Complaint". The Japanese noun '文句 (もんく)' means 'complaint'. It refers to an expression of dissatisfaction or discontent, often about a particular situation or issue. This word is commonly used when someone voices their displeasure or criticism about something. For example: I have a complaint about the service - (この接客について文句がある). She filed a complaint with the manager - (彼女は管理者に文句を言った).
人文科学: "Humanities". The Japanese noun '人文科学 (じんぶんかがく)' refers to the academic disciplines that study human culture, society, and aspects of human existence, such as history, philosophy, literature, art, and languages. These fields of study focus on understanding the human experience and the human condition from various perspectives. For example: The humanities department at the university offers courses in art history and classical literature - (大学の人文科学部には美術史と古典文学の講義がある).
文献: "Document" or "Literature". The Japanese word '文献 (ぶんけん)' can refer to either a 'document' or 'literature'. As a 'document', it denotes a written or printed work consisting of information or evidence, such as a book, article, or report. As 'literature', it refers to written works, especially those considered to have lasting artistic or intellectual value, such as novels, poems, or plays. '文献' is commonly used in academic and scholarly contexts to describe source materials for research and study. For example: I need to consult the relevant literature on this topic - (このトピックについての文献を参照する必要がある). The library has a vast collection of historical documents - (図書館には歴史的な文献が大量にある).
文庫: "Paperback". The Japanese noun '文庫 (ぶんこ)' refers to a paperback book or small book format. It is a compact and portable book size that is commonly used for publications such as novels, short stories, and anthologies. '文庫本' (ぶんこぼん) is the most common term used to describe a paperback book in Japanese. For example: I bought a paperback novel - (文庫本の小説を買った).
文部: "Ministry". The Japanese noun '文部 (もんぶ)' refers to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. It is the government ministry responsible for education, science, sports, and culture. The ministry sets educational policies, curriculum standards, and oversees the education system in Japan. For example: The Ministry of Education announced new guidelines - (文部省は新しいガイドラインを発表した).
文芸: "Literature". The Japanese noun '文芸 (ぶんげい)' refers to literature in general, including fiction, poetry, drama, and other forms of creative writing. It encompasses a wide range of literary works and genres. For example: He is a professor of literature - (彼は文芸の教授です). I enjoy reading various types of literature - (私はさまざまな文芸作品を楽しんで読みます).
本文: "Text". The Japanese noun '本文 (ほんぶん)' means 'text'. This noun refers to the main body of written material, as opposed to titles, headings, footnotes, etc. It is commonly used to describe the core content of a book, document, or article. For example: The text of the novel is very well-written - (小説の本文は非常によく書かれている). The text provides detailed information about the topic - (本文にはその話題について詳しい情報が書かれている).
文学者: "Literary scholar". The Japanese noun '文学者 (ぶんがくしゃ)' refers to a literary scholar or someone who studies and writes about literature. This person may be an expert in literature, an academic, a critic, or someone who has a deep knowledge and appreciation for literary works. They may analyze, interpret, and write about novels, poetry, plays, and other forms of literature. For example: The renowned literary scholar gave a lecture on classic Japanese poetry - (著名な文学者が古典的な日本の詩について講義を行った).
文化的: "Cultural". The Japanese adjective '文化的 (ぶんかてき)' means 'cultural'. It is used to describe something related to or characterized by culture, such as customs, arts, social institutions, etc. It can be used to describe things like cultural events, cultural diversity, cultural heritage, and more. For example: The performance had a very cultural atmosphere - (そのパフォーマンスは非常に文化的な雰囲気だった). This city is known for its rich cultural history - (この街は豊かな文化的歴史で知られている).
文法: "Grammar". The Japanese noun '文法 (ぶんぽう)' refers to the system and structure of a language, including its rules of syntax, morphology, and phonology. It is the study of the rules and principles that govern how a language functions. Grammar is an essential part of language learning and communication. For example: I'm studying Japanese grammar - (日本語の文法を勉強しています). Good grammar is important for clear communication - (適切な文法は明確なコミュニケーションに重要です).
文化財: "Cultural property". The Japanese noun '文化財 (ぶんかざい)' refers to cultural properties of significant historical, artistic, or cultural value. This can include things like historic buildings, archaeological sites, artworks, and other items that are considered part of a country's cultural heritage. These properties are usually designated and protected by the government to preserve them for future generations. For example: The preservation of cultural properties is important - (文化財の保護は重要だ). The museum displays many important cultural properties - (その博物館は多くの重要な文化財を展示している).
文系: "Humanities". The Japanese noun '文系 (ぶんけい)' refers to the academic field or area of study focused on subjects within the humanities, such as literature, philosophy, history, and languages. This term is often contrasted with '理系 (りけい)', which refers to the sciences and technical fields. Students in Japan often have to choose between a '文系' or '理系' track when selecting their area of study in high school or university. For example: I'm a humanities major - (私は文系の専攻です).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "ぶ" is read as "bu". The hiragana "ん" is read as "n". The hiragana "も" is read as "mo". The hiragana "ふ" is read as "fu". And The hiragana "み" is read as "mi".