文
contributes the sense of patterned lines · Kangxi radical 67
contributes the sense of patterned lines, markings, and by extension writing and culture
The oldest forms of 文 show a standing person seen from the front with a decorative mark drawn across the chest — a tattoo or painted pattern. From "body marking" the sense widened to any pattern of lines, then to written characters and the culture built on them. In the modern shape you can still read the figure: the short top stroke as the head, the horizontal as the shoulders, and the crossing strokes below as the patterned chest. The pattern sense stays visible in 纹 (lines in cloth), 斑 (spots) and 雯 (streaked clouds), while in 蚊, 汶 and 玟 it works only for sound.
文 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of patterned lines
- Strokes
- 4
- Characters
- 25
- Role
- Usually contributes sound
- Kangxi radical
- 67
Characters with 文 (20 of 25)
HSK 1 · 1
Beyond HSK · 13
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 文 mean?
文 means "contributes the sense of patterned lines". In the characters that contain it, it usually contributes sound.
How many Chinese characters contain 文?
25 characters in this dictionary contain 文, including ones at HSK 1, HSK 4, HSK 6.
Is 文 a radical?
Yes — 文 is Kangxi radical 67, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 文 have?
文 is written in 4 strokes.