How to say "literature" in Japanese

• 文学ぶんがくJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe general word for literature as a field of study and as literary art: university subjects, literary criticism, and talk about novels and poetry. When in doubt about 'literature', this is the safe choice.
  彼女かのじょはフランス文学ぶんがくを専攻せんこうしている。↗

  She majors in French literature.
• 文献ぶんけんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounLiterature in the sense of written materials: documents, reference books, and the body of published writings consulted in research — the 'literature' a scientist reviews. Not the word for literature as an art.
  その事実じじつは古ふるい文献ぶんけんのいくつかに見出みいだされる。↗

  The facts are buried in a few old books.
• 文芸ぶんげいJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounLiterature as an art or craft — creative writing, belles-lettres. It overlaps with 文学 but stresses the artistic side of writing; for the school subject or literature in general, 文学 is the safer pick.
• 詩文しぶんCommon
  nounLiterary works — poetry and prose — rather than the field of study. For 'literature' meaning the subject or literary art, this is seldom the word you want; it points to the writings themselves.

Choose 文学 for literature as a subject or in general, 文献 for documents and reference writings, 文芸 for literature as a creative art, and 詩文 for literary works — poems and prose.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 文学ぶんがくliterature
• 文献ぶんけんliterature
• 文芸ぶんげいliterature
• 詩文しぶんpoetry and prose
• エクリチュールliterature
• リテラチャーliterature
• リテラチュアliterature
• 文ぶんthe literary arts (as opposed to the military arts)