Japanese word

文芸

Pronunciation

Romajibungei

Meaning

  • nounliterature

Example

文芸に興味があります。bun gei ni kyō mi ga a ri ma su

I am interested in literature.

Illustration for 文芸 (literature)

More examples

毎月、文芸を読む時間を作っています。mai tsuki bun gei o yo mu ji kan o tsuku tte i ma su

Every month, I make time to read literature.

Core concept

Treats crafted language as an artistic medium for expressing ideas, experiences, and imagination.

Common phrases

  • 文芸に親しむbun gei ni shita shi mu

    enjoy literature

  • 文芸を論じるbun gei o ron ji ru

    discuss literature

  • 文芸の伝統bun gei no den tō

    literary tradition

Similar words

文学bungaku: The broad field of written art that expresses ideas, experiences, and imagination.

Definition in Japanese

小説や詩など、言葉を用いて表現する芸術。shō setsu ya shi na do koto ba o mochi i te hyō gen su ru gei jutsu

Word origin

The compound 文 (bun, "writing") + 芸 (gei, "art") forms 文芸 (bungei), meaning literary art or literature.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese publishing, 文芸 (bungei) appears in 文芸誌 (bungeishi), meaning a literary magazine, and often points to literature as a creative field.

Related words

  • 文芸的bungeitekiliteraryna-adjective
  • 文芸家bungeikaliterary writernoun
  • 文芸性bungeiseiliterarinessnoun

Word lists with this word