Meaning of 文明
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- civilized
- civilization
- culture
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 文明
As a noun, 文明 means civilization, as in 中华文明 (Zhōnghuá wénmíng, Chinese civilization). As an adjective it describes polite, considerate behavior and often appears on public signs. Example: 请文明排队。(Qǐng wénmíng páiduì.) Please line up in an orderly way.
文 (wén) means writing or culture, and 明 (míng) means bright, built from 日 (sun) and 月 (moon). When a society has writing and is full of light, it is a civilization.
Common mistake: Learners often use 文明 to mean culture in the sense of arts or customs, but that is usually 文化 (wénhuà). 文明 stresses the level of development or good manners, not a group's traditions.
文明 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
文 wén · language · 4 strokes
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- 4
明 míng · bright · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 文明.
| 明白 | míngbai | clear; obvious; unequivocal; sensible; reasonable |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese language |
| 课文 | kèwén | text |
| 说明 | shuōmíng | to explain; to illustrate |
| 明星 | míngxīng | star; celebrity |
| 英文 | Yīngwén | English (language) |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 证明 | zhèngmíng | proof; certificate |
| 文件 | wénjiàn | document; file |
| 明显 | míngxiǎn | clear; distinct |
Questions about 文明
What does 文明 mean?
文明 (wénmíng) means "civilized; civilization" and is used as a noun and adjective.
How do you write 文明?
文明 is made of 2 characters: 文 (4 strokes), 明 (8 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 文明 an HSK word?
Yes. 文明 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 文明 and 文化?
文化 (wénhuà) is culture: customs, arts, and ways of life, as in 中国文化. 文明 is civilization or being civilized, often implying progress or polite behavior. You say 有文化 for someone educated and 不文明 for rude public behavior.
What does 不文明 mean on signs in China?
不文明 (bù wénmíng) means uncivilized or impolite behavior, such as spitting, littering, or cutting in line. Signs like 文明出行 (wénmíng chūxíng) ask people to travel with good manners.