Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
写论文前,学生必须查阅大量相关文献。Xiě lùnwén qián, xuésheng bìxū cháyuè dàliàng xiāngguān wénxiàn.Before writing a thesis, students must consult a large amount of relevant literature.
这篇报告引用了几十份国外文献。Zhè piān bàogào yǐnyòng le jǐ shí fèn guówài wénxiàn.This report cites dozens of foreign sources.
图书馆里保存着许多珍贵的历史文献。Túshūguǎn lǐ bǎocún zhe xǔduō zhēnguì de lìshǐ wénxiàn.The library keeps many precious historical documents.