古 文(こぶん)

こぶん

noun

classical Japanese; ancient writing

1. classical Japanese; classical literature

The Japanese language and literature from the Heian period through the early modern period. A required subject in Japanese high schools.

古文(こぶん)の授業(じゅぎょう)は難(むずか)しい。

Classical Japanese class is difficult.

高校(こうこう)で古文(こぶん)と漢文(かんぶん)を習(なら)った。

I studied classical Japanese and classical Chinese in high school.

古文(こぶん)の文法(ぶんぽう)は現代語(げんだいご)とかなり違(ちが)うので、慣(な)れるまで時間(じかん)がかかる。

Classical Japanese grammar is quite different from modern Japanese, so it takes time to get used to it.

2. ancient writing; old text

Any text written in an older form of a language.

古文(こぶん)を読(よ)み解(と)く。

To decipher an ancient text.

図書館(としょかん)に貴重(きちょう)な古文(こぶん)が保管(ほかん)されている。

Valuable ancient texts are stored in the library.

専門家(せんもんか)でないと読(よ)めない古文(こぶん)も多(おお)い。

There are many ancient texts that only specialists can read.

Usage

In Japanese education, 古文(こぶん) specifically refers to classical Japanese texts (as opposed to 漢文(かんぶん), classical Chinese texts read in Japanese). Both are required subjects in high school. Students learn to read works like 源氏物語(げんじものがたり) (The Tale of Genji) and 枕草子(まくらのそうし) (The Pillow Book).

Common collocations

古文(こぶん)の授業(じゅぎょう) (classical Japanese class)
古文(こぶん)単語(たんご) (classical Japanese vocabulary)
古文(こぶん)文法(ぶんぽう) (classical Japanese grammar)
古文(こぶん)を読(よ)む (to read classical texts)

Similar words

漢文(かんぶん): classical Chinese (read in Japanese) — paired subject in schools
古語(こご): archaic word — refers to individual old words, not texts

Related Words

Related: 漢文(かんぶん) (classical Chinese)

Related: 古語(こご) (archaic word)

Compare: 古典文学(こてんぶんがく) (classical literature)

general

Added 2026.3.16 14:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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