成文

chéngwén

adjective #27,721

Meanings

1 written; codified
2 in written form; statutory

Characters

to become; to form; to complete

writing; text; language; culture

Examples

成文法是以文字形式明确规定的法律。

Chéngwén fǎ shì yǐ wénzì xíngshì míngquè guīdìng de fǎlǜ.

Statute law is law clearly specified in written form.

这条规定虽然没有成文，但大家都默认遵守。

Zhè tiáo guīdìng suīrán méiyǒu chéngwén, dàn dàjiā dōu mòrèn zūnshǒu.

This rule is not in writing, but everyone tacitly follows it.

Tips

usage

成文 is most commonly used in legal and formal contexts: 成文法 (written law/statute) vs. 不成文法 (unwritten law/common law). 不成文 can also describe any unwritten social rule or norm.

Stroke Order

成 chéng

文 wén