There are numerous types in history. In my way of thinking, he first of all wants to write essays and play with language. He has a lot of basic knowledge about many matters but isn't specialized. Liang Chi-chao and Hu Shih are quintessential Chinese men of letters.
什麼叫做中國書生，歷史上有很多類型，我的看法是，第一他要會寫文章，喜歡舞文弄墨；其次是博而不專，對很多問題都有基本的認識，梁啟超、胡適可以說是中國書生的典型。