noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
total illiteracy; complete inability to read
Literally 'not knowing even one character'; used to describe someone who is completely illiterate. Often used in set phrases like 一文不知の (illiterate).
He is totally illiterate and cannot even write his own name.
In old farming villages, there were many people who were completely illiterate.
Compound of 一 (one), 文 (character, writing), and 不知 (not knowing). The phrase literally means 'not knowing even one character' and is used idiomatically for total illiteracy.