文盲

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 文盲 is a noun formed with 文, writing, and 盲, indicating lack of literacy, and is read もんもう.
• Basic usage: It refers to illiteracy as a personal condition or social issue, as in 文盲のまま育つ and 文盲を減らす.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Condition and social issue
  • 文盲のまま describes a person's condition, while 文盲を減らす presents illiteracy as a problem to be reduced through education.
• Scope of ability
  • The word concerns the absence of basic reading and writing ability, not merely difficulty understanding advanced writing.