Meaning and Usage
"文書" (ぶんしょ) refers to a written document or official record. It is commonly used in formal or business contexts to describe papers, contracts, reports, or any written materials that serve as evidence or reference.
Common Contexts
You will often see "文書" used when talking about legal documents, company paperwork, or official communications. It implies a certain level of formality and importance.
Collocations and Patterns
- 文書を作成する: to create or draft a document
- 重要な文書: important documents
- 文書を保管する: to store or keep documents safely
Usage Notes
"文書" is more formal than just "書類" (しょるい), which also means documents but can be more general or casual. Learners sometimes confuse "文書" with "文章" (ぶんしょう), which means "sentence" or "composition"; remember that "文書" focuses on official written materials, while "文章" refers to writing style or text content.
Using "文書" correctly will help you sound more professional and precise in business or legal Japanese.