sǎn wén
prose; essay
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我喜欢读散文。
wǒ xǐhuān dú sǎnwén.
I like reading prose.
这篇文章是散文。
zhè piān wénzhāng shì sǎnwén.
This article is a prose.
散文是一种文学体裁。
sǎnwén shì yī zhǒng wénxué tǐcǎi.
Prose is a literary genre.
杂文 (záwén)
miscellaneous writings
随笔 (suíbǐ)
essays
韵文 (yùnwén)
poetry
骈文 (piánwén)
parallel prose
The Chinese word 散文 (sǎnwén) is a compound of two characters: 散 (sǎn) and 文 (wén). 散 means "scattered" or "dispersed", while 文 means "writing" or "literature". Together, they form the term 散文, which literally means "scattered writing" or "dispersed literature". This term is used to describe a genre of Chinese literature that is characterized by its free and flexible form, as opposed to the more structured and formal styles of poetry and drama. 散文 can include a wide range of topics and styles, from personal essays and travelogues to historical accounts and philosophical treatises. It is a versatile and expressive form of writing that has been used by Chinese writers for centuries to convey their thoughts and ideas.
