Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The higher literary idiom of Chinese, that of the canonical books and of all composition pretending to literary standing. It employs a classical or academic diction, and a more condensed and sententious style than Mandarin, and differs also in the doubling and arrangement of words.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word wen-li.
Examples
-
An article in New Youth fired the first shot in the battle between wen-li, the ancient classical written language intelligible only to scholars, and pai-hua baihua, the despised medium of ordinary speech.
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
-
Perhaps the Sydenstrickers recognized that China had marked Pearl indelibly, and perhaps they felt she should learn literary wen-li as an antidote to the racy popular language she spoke with her friends and Wang Amah.
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
-
An article in New Youth fired the first shot in the battle between wen-li, the ancient classical written language intelligible only to scholars, and pai-hua baihua, the despised medium of ordinary speech.
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
-
Perhaps the Sydenstrickers recognized that China had marked Pearl indelibly, and perhaps they felt she should learn literary wen-li as an antidote to the racy popular language she spoke with her friends and Wang Amah.
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
-
wen-li ancient classical written Chinese language, 50, 90, 136–37
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
-
wen-li ancient classical written Chinese language, 50, 90, 136–37
PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.