文献|ぶんけんbunken[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounliterature; books (reference); document
   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.

• Related出典しゅってんWrittenWritten/formal: the source a quotation or piece of information comes from, as in 「出典を明記する」. It names where a specific quote is from, not a body of materials.
• Related典拠てんきょWrittenWritten/formal: the reliable source or authority something rests on, as in 「典拠を示す」. It points to the basis behind a claim, not to research materials.

Use 「文献」 for written research materials, as in 「参考文献」. When naming where a quotation comes from, say 「出典」; for the reliable source or authority behind something, say 「典拠」. Both are written/formal terms.

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

1. 昔むかしの制度せいどや文物ぶんぶつを知しるための記録きろく。
2. 参考さんこうとなる書物しょもつ・文書ぶんしょ。