VocabularyJLPT N5 · core

文化

ぶんか

hepburn bunka

culture

Part of speech · noun

Pattern visualization

文writing

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Numbers4 strokes · 2.7s

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Examples

日本文化が好きです。
I like Japanese culture.
文化の違いを感じる。
I feel the cultural difference.

Collocations

文化 (bunka, culture)文化の日 (bunka no hi, Culture Day Nov 3)伝統文化 (dentou bunka, traditional culture)ポップカルチャー (pop karuchaa, pop culture)クールジャパン (Cool Japan)

Mnemonic

Bunka (文化) is "culture" — kanji 文 (writing) plus 化 (transformation) = "society shaped by writing." Bunka no hi (November 3 Culture Day, covered in nichi). Traditional culture cluster: sadou (tea), kadou (flower arrangement), shodou (calligraphy), noh, kabuki, sumou. Modern pop culture: anime, manga, J-POP, gaming (Nintendo, Sony, SEGA, Capcom). Cool Japan (2002 Foreign Ministry policy) markets the export. Loanwords like kawaii, otaku, sushi, ramen, and manga rode this wave. Bunka no chigai (cultural difference) is a common conversation hook. Korean munhwa and Chinese wenhua share the kanji. JLPT N5 core plus Japanese cultural cluster.

Quick check

Origin of Cool Japan policy?