牍
ancient wooden slip; document; letter
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
wooden slips used for writing in ancient times
archaicRefers specifically to the wooden tablets used before the invention of paper. Often appears in historical or literary contexts.
Ancient scholars carved characters onto wooden slips.
The unearthed bamboo and wooden slips from the Han Dynasty are important historical documents.
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The culture of bamboo and wooden slips is crucial for studying pre-Qin history.
noun
official document; letter; correspondence
literaryA formal or literary term for documents or letters, often used in compound words.
This important document needs to be handled immediately.
Burdened by official documents, he has to review a large number of official papers every day.
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When he traveled far, he maintained correspondence with his family via letters.
Memorials from ancient officials were important documents for reporting to the emperor.