文章

ぶんしょう

sentence, text

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 文章 (wénzhāng) primarily means "article" or "essay" in Chinese. It refers to a written piece of work, often formal or literary, such as newspaper articles, essays, or chapters in a book.

Common Contexts

文章 is frequently used in academic, journalistic, and literary contexts. It can describe anything from a short article in a magazine to a longer essay or chapter in a book.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 文章内容 (wénzhāng nèiróng): article content — used to discuss what the article is about.
  • 文章 (xiě wénzhāng): to write an article — common phrase for producing written work.
  • 发表文章 (fābiǎo wénzhāng): to publish an article — used in academic or media contexts.

Usage Notes

When using 文章, the focus is on the written composition itself, not just any text message or casual writing. It often implies a certain level of formality or structure. Avoid confusing 文章 with 句子 (jùzi), which means "sentence," or (wénzì), which refers to "characters" or "script."

Example Sentences

This article introduces the history and culture of China.

He wrote an article about environmental protection.

This article has a clear structure and rich content.