文献 wénxiàn reference material (used in scholarly study)
How to remember 文献: 文 culture + 献 to offer = reference material (used in scholarly study).
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How it is used
- Scholarly reference material/literature - 参考文献 (cānkǎo wénxiàn) references/bibliography, 查阅文献 (cháyuè wénxiàn) consult the literature.
- Specifically documents/writings used as sources in research; academic register.
- Contrast 资料 (zīliào, materials/data generally); 文献 is authoritative written sources for study.