Chinese word

书法

Pronunciation

Pinyinshū fǎ

Meaning

  • nouncalligraphy

Example

博物馆展出很多古代书法。bó wù guǎn zhǎn chū hěn duō gǔ dài shū fǎ

The museum displays many ancient works of calligraphy.

Illustration for 书法 (calligraphy)

More examples

这次书法展展示了许多当代作品。zhè cì shū fá zhǎn zhǎn shì le xǔ duō dāng dài zuò pǐn

This calligraphy exhibition displays many contemporary works.

Core concept

A practiced way of shaping Chinese characters gives each line balance, movement, and visual character.

Common phrases

  • 书法展shū fá zhǎn

    calligraphy exhibition

  • 书法家shū fǎ jiā

    calligrapher

  • 学习书法xué xí shū fǎ

    learn calligraphy

Similar words

笔法bí fǎ: The techniques used to move a brush and form written lines.
书体shū tǐ: A style or form of Chinese characters defined by their shapes and design.
笔迹bǐ jì: The distinctive lines and marks left by someone's hand when writing.

Definition in Chinese

指按照一定的笔法和章法，把汉字写成具有节奏感、表现力和审美性的书写作品或所掌握的技艺。zhǐ àn zhào yí dìng de bí fǎ hé zhāng fǎ bǎ hàn zì xiě chéng jù yǒu jié zòu gǎn biǎo xiàn lì hé shén měi xìng de shū xiě zuò pǐn huò suǒ zhǎng wò de jì yì

Word origin

书 (shū, "writing") + 法 (fǎ, "method") presents 书法 (shūfǎ, "calligraphy") as writing guided by an established method rather than ordinary handwriting alone.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, this word points to an art form rather than any neat handwriting, so readable school writing is not automatically an example.

Opposites

  • 涂鸦tú yāgraffitinoun

Related words

  • 书法家shū fǎ jiācalligraphernoun
  • 书法展shū fá zhǎncalligraphy exhibitionnoun
  • 书法作品shū fǎ zuò pǐncalligraphic worksnoun

Word lists with this word