Chinese–EnglishWith examples

文字

wén zì · wen zi

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. character
  2. script
  3. writing
  4. written language
  5. writing style
  6. phraseology
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

The wall writing

  1. Leon

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，墙上(qiángshàng)这些(zhèxiē)是(shì)什么(shénme)文字(wénzì)？

    Dengdeng, what writing is this on the wall?

  2. Dengdeng

    这(zhè)是(shì)汉字(hànzì)，写(xiě)的(de)是(shì)茶(chá)。

    These are Chinese characters. They say tea.

  3. Leon

    中国(zhōngguó)的(de)文字(wénzì)真(zhēn)有意思(yǒuyìsi)，像(xiàng)画(huà)一样(yīyàng)。

    Chinese writing is really interesting, like drawings.

  4. Dengdeng

    对(duì)，很多(hěnduō)文字(wénzì)最早(zuìzǎo)就是(jiùshì)画(huà)。

    Yes, many characters were drawings at first.

  5. Leon

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)学(xué)写(xiě)汉字(hànzì)，你(nǐ)教(jiāo)我(wǒ)吧(ba)。

    I want to learn to write characters. Please teach me.

  6. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)，先(xiān)学(xué)最(zuì)简单(jiǎndān)的(de)：一(yī)。

    Okay, first learn the simplest one: one.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

阿(ā)尔(ěr)法(fǎ)、贝(bèi)塔(tǎ)和(hé)咖(gā)玛(mǎ)是(shì)希(xī)腊(là)文(wén)字(zì)。

Alpha, beta and gamma are Greek letters.

Tatoeba: Chinese by ydcok · English by marcelostockle · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)没(méi)有(yǒu)时(shí)间(jiān)翻(fān)译(yì)这(zhè)段(duàn)文(wén)字(zì)。

I don't have time to translate this text.

Tatoeba: Chinese by MiracleQ · English by Amastan · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
文
wén

language; culture

字
zì

letter; symbol

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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