文章
ぶんしょう · bunshou · JLPT N5 · noun
sentence
📝 文章 = writing (文) + chapter (章): a composed piece of text
文 means writing or letters, as in 文学 (literature). 章 means chapter or badge, a marked-off section. Writing arranged into sections gives a text or a piece of prose. Sound hook: bun-shou, a bun on show, labelled with a written sentence.
文 — pictograph of crossed lines on a chest
文 originally depicted a person with patterns or tattoos drawn on the chest, shown as crossed or interwoven lines. From this image of decorative markings, it came to mean 'pattern,' then 'writing,' 'script,' and 'literature' or 'culture.' The modern senses all trace back to the idea of meaningful marks.
章 — 立 stand + 早 early; or 音 sound + 十 ten
Originally depicted a complete musical composition, analyzed as 音 (sound) plus 十 (ten, marking completion). From 'finished melody' it extended to 'a chapter, section, or composition,' then to 'pattern, rules, or insignia.' Modern uses include chapters in books and official seals.