文語体(ぶんごたい)

ぶんごたい
noun
literary style; classical written Japanese
formalacademiclanguage
1. literary style; classical written Japanese
A style of writing based on the grammar of classical Japanese, used for official documents, laws, and much literature until the mid-twentieth century. Contrasts with 口語体(こうごたい), the modern colloquial style used today.
この詩(し)は文語体(ぶんごたい)で書(か)かれている。
This poem is written in the literary style.
明治(めいじ)の法律(ほうりつ)は文語体(ぶんごたい)で読(よ)みにくい。
Meiji-era laws are written in classical style and are hard to read.
戦後(せんご)、公文書(こうぶんしょ)は文語体(ぶんごたい)から口語体(こうごたい)に改(あらた)められた。
After the war, official documents were changed from the classical style to the colloquial style.

From 文語(ぶんご) (written, classical language) + 体(たい) (style).

Usage

You meet it in older poetry, tanka and haiku, the Imperial Rescript on Education, and prewar laws. Marks of the style include けり, なり, and ず in place of modern forms.

Related words

Related Words

Related: 口語体(こうごたい) (colloquial style)
Related: 古文(こぶん) (classical Japanese texts, the school…)
Related: 漢文(かんぶん) (classical Chinese as read in Japan)
general
Added 2026.10.19 21:51 · Revised 2026.10.19 21:53
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