Explore 文 through sentences and writing. The examples connect whole words and their readings to everyday contexts.

The idea

文 has 4 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 文（ぶん） and 作文（さくぶん） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
文ぶんI write a short sentence.
作文さくぶんI show my composition to my teacher.
文字もじI copy the writing on the blackboard onto paper.

Examples

  • 短みじかい文ぶんを書かきます。I write a short sentence.
  • 作文さくぶんを先生せんせいに見みせます。I show my composition to my teacher.
  • 日本語にほんごで短みじかい作文さくぶんを書かきました。I wrote a short composition in Japanese.
  • 黒板こくばんの文字もじを紙かみに写うつします。I copy the writing on the blackboard onto paper.
  • 友達ともだちと日本にほんの文化ぶんかを学まなびます。I learn about Japanese culture with a friend.
  • この文章ぶんしょうは長ながいです。This passage is long.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

文 can be a sentence, while 文字 refers to written characters. In 文字, 文 is read も, not ぶん. Compare the shape of 文 with 交.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 文 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    ぶん

    文 is read ぶん. In context: I write a short sentence.

  2. Write the reading of 作文 in hiragana.

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    さくぶん

    作文 is read さくぶん. In context: I show my composition to my teacher.

  3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿（ぶん）［文／交］.

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    文

    文 completes 文, read ぶん. In context: I write a short sentence.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 文 from memory, and read 文 and 作文 aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.