文
The 文 radical
Writing, pattern
Memory hook
Originally a pattern tattooed on a person's chest; from 'pattern' it came to mean 'writing': 文化 (culture), 文章 (essay).
The 文 radical (read wén) means writing, pattern. The HSK 3.0 data contains 2 characters and 28 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 文 radical
Study this radical's 28 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 文 radical
2 charactersHSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1文
writing, literature
HSK 7-9· 1 characters
HSK 7-9斑
stripes; spots
Vocabulary with the 文 radical
28 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 文 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (25/28 words of this radical).
Chinese (language)
text (in a textbook)
essay; composition
English (language)
foreign language
document; file
culture
script; writing system; characters
literature
civilization; civilized
article; essay
thesis, essay, paper
astronomy
prose; essay
literature and art
cultural and recreational activities; entertainment
humanistic; cultural
full text
writing (script, language)
man of letters, person learned in literature
stationery, school supplies
diploma, degree certificate
cultural relic, cultural heritage
document, literature
illiterate person
Why learn vocabulary by the 文 radical?
The 文 radical hints at the meaning writing, pattern. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 2 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 28 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.