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文化

bunka
noun★Intermediate💡 culture
formal

the customs, arts, institutions, and achievements of a particular group or society

彼は日本の文化に深い興味を持っている。

He has a deep interest in Japanese culture.

💡

Often used to discuss traditions, arts, and social norms.

Collocations

文化遺産cultural heritage文化交流cultural exchange文化的多様性cultural diversity

Synonyms

文明芸術

Antonyms

野蛮

Related Phrases

文化財phrase
cultural property
文化的phrase
cultural (adjectival)

💡Pro Tip

Culture vs. Civilization

Do not confuse '文化' (culture) with '文明' (civilization). The former focuses on customs and arts, while the latter emphasizes societal development and technology.

⚡Gold Rule

Specify the Subject

When talking about a particular country's culture, always attach the country name, e.g., '日本の文化', 'フランスの文化'.

📖Word Origin

From Chinese characters 文 (bun, 'writing, literature') + 化 (ka, 'change, transformation'), originally meaning 'the process of civilization'. Adopted into Japanese with the same meaning.

📝Usage Notes

Use '文化' when referring to the broad set of practices, beliefs, and artifacts of a society. For a more specific sense of 'civilization' or 'advanced society', '文明' is preferred.

和英辞典

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