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).
彼は一文不知で、自分の名前も書けない。
He is totally illiterate and cannot even write his own name.
昔の農村では一文不知の人が多かった。
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.