Definition

1. Noun:
   • National literature: The body of literary works (such as poetry, novels, essays) written in the national language, reflecting the culture, history, and identity of a nation.
   • National language: The official or primary language of a nation. This meaning is often used in specific, sometimes historical, contexts to refer to the language itself, especially in contrast to foreign languages.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy là một học giả nghiên cứu về quốc văn Việt Nam. (He is a scholar researching Vietnamese national literature.)
  • Tờ báo này là một cơ quan quốc văn quan trọng đầu thế kỷ 20. (This newspaper was an important national-language publication in the early 20th century.)
  • Trong chương trình giáo dục xưa, quốc văn là một môn học chính. (In the old education curriculum, national literature/language was a main subject.)

Advanced Usage

• The term quốc văn is often used in historical or formal contexts, particularly when discussing the development and promotion of the national language and literature during periods like the early 20th century in Vietnam.
• It can imply a sense of cultural sovereignty and identity, distinguishing native literary and linguistic heritage from foreign (e.g., Chinese or French) influences.

Variants and Related Words

• Văn học (n): Literature (a broader, more general term for literature).
• Ngôn ngữ (n): Language (the general concept).
• Tiếng Việt (n): Vietnamese language (the specific name of the language).
• Quốc ngữ (n): National script. Specifically refers to the modern Vietnamese writing system based on the Latin alphabet.

Synonyms

• Văn chương nước nhà: Literature of one's country.
• Tiếng nước nhà: Language of one's country.

Related Phrases

• Báo chí quốc văn: National-language press; newspapers published in the national language.
• Hiệu sách quốc văn: National-language bookstore; a bookstore specializing in books in the national language.

noun

1. national literature