文・書|ふみfumi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounletter; note; mail
2. nounbook; writings
3. nounliterary arts; learning; scholarship

• Synonym書簡しょかんWrittenWritten/formal prose word for letters and correspondence; more formal than 「文」, which is an archaic way to say letter when read 「ふみ」.
• Synonym便りたよりNeutralNeutral word covering news and letters from someone, as in 「お便り」, with the emphasis on tidings; 「文」 is more archaic and, in this sense, refers specifically to letters.
• Synonym手紙てがみNeutralThe everyday, most common word for a letter; 「文」is the archaic equivalent, met mainly in literature or compounds like 「恋文」.
• Synonym書面しょめんNeutralNeutral word for a written document, as in 「書面で回答」, stressing the written form; 「文」means a letter.
• Synonym書状しょじょうWrittenFormal written-style word for letters and documents; everyday usage is 「手紙」, and 「文」is the archaic choice.
• SynonymレターNeutralLoanword seen mostly in compounds like 「ラブレター」and 「ニュースレター」; seldom used on its own for a letter.
• Synonym文書ぶんしょNeutralNeutral word for official documents and papers, as in 「公文書」; its range far exceeds letters, while 「文」means a letter.
• Synonym玉梓たまずさWrittenElegant literary word for a treasured letter, especially a love letter; rarer than 「文」today and more overtly poetic.
• Synonym書札しょさつWrittenWritten-style but rarely used word for letters and notes; everyday speech prefers 「手紙」, while 「文」leans archaic.
• Synonym雁の文かりのふみWrittenPoetic allusion to letters entrusted to the autumn wild geese; rare today and confined to literary expression.
• Synonym雁の便りかりのたよりWrittenElegant allusion, from geese as bearers of seasonal news, for letters and tidings; rarer and more refined than 「文」.
• Synonym雁書がんしょWrittenWritten allusive word for letters, from the geese-carrying-letters motif; rare today, with 「手紙」the everyday choice.
• Synonym信書しんしょWrittenWritten and legal in register: a document sent to a specific person to convey a message, as in 「信書の秘密」.
• Synonym書信しょしんWrittenWritten-style word for letters, rarely used; everyday speech is 「手紙」, and 「文」is the archaic variant.
• Synonym玉章ぎょくしょうWrittenSame word as 玉梓 above: an elegant term for a treasured letter or love letter; rare in modern use.
• Synonym尺牘せきとくWrittenArchaic written word for a letter or epistle; rare today, found mainly in kanbun and calligraphy circles.
• Antonym武ぶWrittenThe antonym of 「文」only in the 文武 pairing read 「ぶん」, meaning martial arts and military force; the letter sense 「ふみ」has no such opposite.

For an ordinary letter, say 「手紙」; 「文（ふみ）」is the archaic, literary equivalent heard in 「恋文」. In formal prose use 「書簡」or 「書状」; 「文書」covers official documents. 「便り」stresses news from someone. The rest—「玉梓」, 「雁の文」, 「尺牘」and the like—are rare literary or legal terms, and 「武」is the antonym only of the 文 in 文武.

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

1. （ふみ）書簡しょかん。