文化 (wénhuà) — culture, cultural
HSK 5 | noun | the beliefs, customs, arts, and social institutions of a group; also education and literacy
文化 (wénhuà)
One of the most expansive words in Chinese -- covering shared beliefs, traditions, and arts of a civilization, as well as an individual's level of education or literacy.
Meanings
- [noun] culture, civilization
- [noun] education, literacy (when describing an individual's level of learning)
Example Sentences
了解一个国家的文化有助于更好地与当地人沟通。 Liǎojiě yī gè guójiā de wénhuà yǒuzhù yú gèng hǎo de yǔ dāngedì rén gōutōng. Understanding a country's culture helps communicate better with locals.
中华文化拥有五千年的悠久历史。 Zhōnghuá wénhuà yōngyǒu wǔqiānnián de yōujiǔ lìshǐ. Chinese culture has a long history spanning five thousand years.
跨文化交流在全球化背景下变得越来越重要。 Kuà wénhuà jiāoliú zài quánqiú huà bèijǐng xià biàn de yuè lái yuè zhòngyào. Cross-cultural communication has become increasingly important in the context of globalization.
企业文化对员工的工作满意度有深远影响。 Qǐyè wénhuà duì yuángōng de gōngzuò mǎnyìdù yǒu shēnyuǎn yǐngxiǎng. Corporate culture has a profound influence on employee job satisfaction.
他虽然文化水平不高，但非常聪明勤奋。 Tā suīrán wénhuà shuǐpíng bù gāo, dàn fēicháng cōngmíng qínfèn. Although his level of formal education is not high, he is very intelligent and hardworking.
保护非物质文化遗产是全人类共同的责任。 Bǎohù fēi wùzhì wénhuà yíchǎn shì quán rénlèi gòngtóng de zérèn. Protecting intangible cultural heritage is a shared responsibility of all humanity.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 文化遗产 (wénhuà yíchǎn) | cultural heritage |
| 企业文化 (qǐyè wénhuà) | corporate culture |
| 跨文化 (kuà wénhuà) | cross-cultural |
| 文化交流 (wénhuà jiāoliú) | cultural exchange |
| 传统文化 (chuántǒng wénhuà) | traditional culture |
| 文化水平 (wénhuà shuǐpíng) | level of education/literacy |
Usage Notes
文化 has two distinct usages. In the broader sense it refers to culture as civilization -- traditions, arts, and values. In a narrower personal sense, 文化水平 means one's level of formal education or literacy, a usage unique to Chinese.
At B2 level, learners should master both senses. The phrase 文化差异 (cultural differences) is essential for discussing international relations and social issues, while 文化水平 appears in biographical and sociological contexts.
Memory Hook
文 originally depicted a person with a tattoo or pattern -- representing writing and culture. 化 means transformation. Culture is what writing and learning transform us into -- civilized beings shaped by inherited knowledge.