wénmíng

文明

HSK 3Word · Noun · Adjective

culture; civilized; polite

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 9 examples
1.

noun

culture; civilization

formal

Refers to the collective intellectual and social achievements of a society or era.

Zhōng中
guó国
gǔ古
dài代
wén文
míng明
duì对
shì世
jiè界
chǎn产
shēng生
le了
shēn深
yuǎn远
yǐng影
xiǎng响
 。

Ancient Chinese civilization has had a profound impact on the world.

Wù物
zhì质
wén文
míng明
hé和
jīng精
shén神
wén文
míng明
yào要
xié协
tiáo调
fā发
zhǎn展
 。

Material and spiritual civilization should develop in a coordinated manner.

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Rén人
lèi类
wén文
míng明
bù不
duàn断
jìn进
bù步
 。

Human civilization is constantly progressing.

2.

adjective

civilized; developed; enlightened

formal

Describes societies or nations with advanced social and cultural development.

Xīn新
jiā加
pō坡
shì是
yī一
gè个
wén文
míng明
 、
zhěng整
jié洁
de的
guó国
jiā家
 。

Singapore is a civilized and clean country.

Gōng公
mín民
yào要
zūn遵
shǒu守
wén文
míng明
xíng行
wéi为
guī规
fàn范
 。

Citizens should abide by civilized behavioral norms.

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Jiàn建
shè设
wén文
míng明
chéng城
shì市
shì是
dà大
jiā家
gòng共
tóng同
de的
mù目
biāo标
 。

Building a civilized city is a common goal for everyone.

3.

adjective

Western-style; modern (in a historical context)

archaic

A historical term from the late Qing/early Republic era, referring to things, customs, or styles introduced from the West and considered modern at the time. Can carry a slightly ironic or dated nuance.

Zài在
mín民
guó国
shí时
qī期
 ,
wén文
míng明
jié结
hūn婚
kāi开
shǐ始
liú流
xíng行
qǐ起
lái来
 。

During the Republican period, Western-style weddings began to become popular.

Tā他
ná拿
zhe着
yī一
gēn根
wén文
míng明
gùn棍
 ,
dǎ打
ban扮
de得
hěn很
shí时
máo髦
 。

He carried a walking stick and dressed very fashionably.

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Zhè这
jiàn件
dōng东
xi西
zài在
dāng当
shí时
kě可
suàn算
shì是
wén文
míng明
de的
xiàng象
zhēng征
 。

This item was considered a symbol of modernity at the time.