文明 (wénmíng) — civilization; civilized
HSK 4 | noun / adjective | civilization or being civilized
文明 (wénmíng)
文明 refers to civilization as a noun, or to civilized and cultured behavior as an adjective.
Meanings
- [noun] civilization; a stage of human social development with advanced culture and society
- [adjective] civilized; cultured; well-mannered
Example Sentences
中国有着悠久的文明历史。 Zhōngguó yǒuzhe yōujiǔ de wénmíng lìshǐ. China has a long history of civilization.
请文明使用公共设施。 Qǐng wénmíng shǐyòng gōnggòng shèshī. Please use public facilities in a civilized manner.
古代文明对现代社会影响很大。 Gǔdài wénmíng duì xiàndài shèhuì yǐngxiǎng hěn dà. Ancient civilizations have a great influence on modern society.
我们应该做文明的市民。 Wǒmen yīnggāi zuò wénmíng de shìmín. We should be civilized citizens.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 文明社会 | civilized society |
| 文明行为 | civilized behavior |
| 古代文明 | ancient civilization |
| 物质文明 | material civilization |
Usage Notes
文明 can function as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun it refers to a whole civilization or cultural era. As an adjective it describes polite, cultured behavior in everyday contexts. At B1 level it appears in discussions of culture, history, and public etiquette.
Memory Hook
Think of "wen" (writing/culture) plus "ming" (bright): a civilization is where culture shines brightly.