HSK · Level 56
105 words
Chinese word
文盲
Pronunciation
Pinyinwén máng
Meaning
- nounilliterate
Example
他不识字，是个文盲。tā bù shí zì shì gè wén máng
He cannot read or write; he is illiterate.
More examples
农村地区仍有很多文盲需要识字教育。nóng cūn dì qū réng yǒu hěn duō wén máng xū yào shí zì jiào yù
There are still many illiterate people in rural areas who need literacy education.
Core concept
Someone cut off from the written world, unable to read or write without help.
Common phrases
消除文盲xiāo chú wén máng
eliminate illiteracy
减少文盲jián shǎo wén máng
reduce illiteracy
成人文盲chéng rén wén máng
adult illiterate
Similar words
半文盲bàn wén máng: A person who can read some simple words but lacks full reading and writing ability.
不识字bù shí zì: A person with no or almost no ability to read written characters.
成人文盲chéng rén wén máng: An adult with little or no ability to read and write.
识字困难者shí zì kùn nán zhě: A person who finds it hard to acquire basic literacy skills.
Definition in Chinese
缺乏识字能力、不能自主阅读或书写文字的人。quē fá shí zì néng lì bù néng zì zhǔ yuè dú huò shū xiě wén zì de rén
Word origin
文 (wén, "writing") + 盲 (máng, "blind") forms a metaphor for blindness to written language and names a person who cannot read or write independently.
Usage tips
- A single unfamiliar character or difficult technical text does not make someone 文盲 (wénmáng, "illiterate"); the word points to a broad lack of reading and writing ability.
Opposites
- 识字者shí zì zhěliterate personnoun
- 受教育者shòu jiào yù zhěeducated personnoun
Related words
- 半文盲bàn wén mángsemi-illiteratenoun
- 文盲率wén máng lǜilliteracy ratenoun
- 文盲人口wén máng rén kǒuilliterate populationnoun