Usage note
“文学”是指用文字表达思想和情感的艺术，比如故事、诗歌和小说。
“Wénxué” shì zhǐ yòng wénzì biǎodá sīxiǎng hé qínggǎn de yìshù, bǐrú gùshì, shīgē hé xiǎoshuō.
“Literature” is the art of expressing thoughts and feelings through words, like stories, poems, and novels.
Context note
在学校里，语文课会学习文学，比如读童话和古诗。
Zài xuéxiào lǐ, yǔwén kè huì xuéxí wénxué, bǐrú dú tónghuà hé gǔshī.
At school, Chinese class studies literature, like reading fairy tales and ancient poems.
5 examples
我喜欢读文学书，特别是童话故事。
wǒ xǐ huan dú wén xué shū， tè bié shì tóng huà gù shì。
I like reading literature books, especially fairy tales.
文学课上，老师教我们写诗。
wén xué kè shàng， lǎo shī jiào wǒ men xiě shī。
In literature class, the teacher teaches us to write poems.
《西游记》是中国著名的文学作品。
《 xī yóu jì 》 shì zhōng guó zhù míng de wén xué zuò pǐn。
“Journey to the West” is a famous Chinese literary work.
文学可以让我们学到很多道理。
wén xué kě yǐ ràng wǒ men xué dào hěn duō dào lǐ。
Literature can teach us many lessons.
妈妈每天晚上给我读文学故事。
mā ma měi tiān wǎn shàng gěi wǒ dú wén xué gù shì。
Mom reads me literature stories every night.
5 mini stories
小明在文学书中找到了一个有趣的故事。
xiǎo míng zài wén xué shū zhōng zhǎo dào le yí gè yǒu qù de gù shì。
Xiao Ming found an interesting story in a literature book.
小红喜欢文学，她写了自己的小诗。
xiǎo hóng xǐ huan wén xué， tā xiě le zì jǐ de xiǎo shī。
Xiao Hong likes literature, she wrote her own little poem.
文学课让同学们分享自己最喜欢的书。
wén xué kè ràng tóng xué men fēn xiǎng zì jǐ zuì xǐ huan de shū。
Literature class lets classmates share their favorite books.
小华从文学中学到了勇敢和善良。
xiǎo huá cóng wén xué zhōng xué dào le yǒng gǎn hé shàn liáng。
Xiao Hua learned bravery and kindness from literature.
小丽把文学故事讲给弟弟听。
xiǎo lì bǎ wén xué gù shì jiǎng gěi dì di tīng。
Xiao Li tells literature stories to her little brother.
Mini dialogue
喜欢文学
A
你喜欢文学吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān wénxué ma?
Do you like literature?
B
喜欢，我经常读文学书。
Xǐhuān, wǒ jīngcháng dú wénxué shū.
Yes, I often read literature books.
文学课
A
今天有文学课吗？
Jīntiān yǒu wénxué kè ma?
Is there a literature class today?
B
有，我们学习中国文学。
Yǒu, wǒmen xuéxí Zhōngguó wénxué.
Yes, we study Chinese literature.
Related words and contrasts
related
小说
xiǎoshuō
novel, fiction
小说 is a common form of literature.
related
诗歌
shīgē
poetry
诗歌 is another important part of literature.