文化
culture
wénhuà
What does 文化 mean?
文化 (wénhuà) is the noun 'culture' — the customs, arts, ideas, and way of life of a people or group. It is a neutral, everyday word that maps closely onto English 'culture' in most contexts: 中国文化 (Chinese culture), 文化差异 (cultural differences), 公司文化 (company culture). Two things to know. First, 文化 also has a narrower secondary sense of 'literacy / book learning' — saying 他没有文化 means 'he's uneducated / illiterate,' not 'he has no culture.'
This usage is older and slightly judgmental. Second, 文化 in compounds often translates as the adjective 'cultural' in English (文化活动 = cultural activities). The word is built from 文 (writing, civilization) plus 化 (change, transform), literally 'transformation through writing/civilization.'
Character breakdown
writing; civilization; literature
to change; to transform
Memory hook: 文 (writing) + 化 (transform) — culture is what 'transforms' a people through their writing and shared traditions.
Measure word for 文化
Example sentences
我很喜欢中国文化。
Wǒ hěn xǐhuan Zhōngguó wénhuà.
I really like Chinese culture.
neutral
中国和美国的文化很不一样。
Zhōngguó hé Měiguó de wénhuà hěn bù yíyàng.
Chinese and American cultures are very different.
neutral
学语言也是在学文化。
Xué yǔyán yě shì zài xué wénhuà.
Learning a language is also learning a culture.
neutral
他们公司的文化很好。
Tāmen gōngsī de wénhuà hěn hǎo.
Their company culture is really good.
spoken
这本书介绍了中国的传统文化。
Zhè běn shū jièshào le Zhōngguó de chuántǒng wénhuà.
This book introduces traditional Chinese culture.
written
Common phrases with 文化
Synonyms
文明 means 'civilization' on a grander historical scale (古代文明 ancient civilizations) or 'civilized' as an adjective (文明社会 civilized society). 文化 is everyday 'culture' — habits, arts, daily life. Don't say 中国文明 for 'Chinese culture' — say 中国文化.
传统 means 'tradition' — specific inherited practices. 文化 is the broader system that contains traditions. 中国传统 = Chinese traditions; 中国文化 = Chinese culture (including traditions, language, food, etc.).
Don't confuse 文化 with
FAQ
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