Japanese word

文明

Pronunciation

Romajibunmei

Meaning

  • nouncivilization

Example

文明は長い時間をかけて発展します。bun mei wa naga i ji kan o ka ke te hat ten shi ma su

Civilization develops over a long time.

Illustration for 文明 (civilization)

More examples

この地域では古代文明の遺跡を見学できます。ko no chi iki de wa ko dai bun mei no i seki o ken gaku de ki ma su

You can visit the ruins of an ancient civilization in this area.

Core concept

Civilization refers to a developed human society whose shared knowledge, institutions, and technology have grown over time.

Common phrases

  • 文明を築くbun mei o kizu ku

    build a civilization

  • 文明の発展bun mei no hat ten

    development of civilization

  • 古代文明ko dai bun mei

    ancient civilization

  • 現代文明gen dai bun mei

    modern civilization

Similar words

文化bunka: The shared beliefs, customs, arts, and way of life of a particular group.

Definition in Japanese

人々の社会が長い時間をかけて発展し、知識や制度、技術などが整った状態。hito bito no sha kai ga naga i ji kan o ka ke te hat ten shi chi shiki ya sei do gi jutsu na do ga totono tta jō tai

Word origin

文明 (bunmei) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 文 (bun, "writing; pattern") and 明 (mei, "bright; clear"); the compound came to denote an advanced, organized society.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, civilization sounds more formal than culture and commonly appears in phrases such as ancient civilization and modern civilization.

Other meanings

  • culturenoun

Opposites

  • 野蛮yabanbarbarismnoun

Related words

  • 文明化bunmeikacivilizationnoun
  • 文明的bunmeitekicivilizedna-adjective
  • 文明人bunmeinincivilized personnoun

Word lists with this word