文脈(ぶんみゃく)

ぶんみゃく
noun
context
1. context, textual context
The surrounding text or situation that gives meaning to a particular word, phrase, or passage. Also used more broadly for the background circumstances that frame a discussion or event.
文脈(ぶんみゃく)から意味(いみ)を推測(すいそく)する。
I infer the meaning from context.
この言葉(ことば)は文脈(ぶんみゃく)によって意味(いみ)が変(か)わる。
The meaning of this word changes depending on the context.
歴史的(れきしてき)な文脈(ぶんみゃく)を理解(りかい)しないと、この作品(さくひん)の真意(しんい)は読(よ)み取(と)れない。
Without understanding the historical context, you cannot grasp the true meaning of this work.

USAGE:
文脈(ぶんみゃく) literally combines 文(ぶん) (text) and 脈(みゃく) (vein/flow), suggesting the flow or thread running through a text. While originally a linguistic term, it is now widely used in everyday speech for any kind of context — historical, social, or conversational.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 文脈(ぶんみゃく)から判断(はんだん)する: to judge from context
  • 文脈(ぶんみゃく)を読(よ)む: to read the context
  • 文脈(ぶんみゃく)に沿(そ)って: in line with the context
  • 歴史的(れきしてき)文脈(ぶんみゃく): historical context

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • コンテキスト: context (loanword, often used in IT/technical fields)
  • 前後(ぜんご)関係(かんけい): surrounding context (more literal)
  • 背景(はいけい): background (broader, not necessarily textual)
general
Added 2026.2.22 15:24
12500/12723_bunmyaku