HSK · Level 57
105 words
Chinese word
毛笔
Pronunciation
Pinyinmáo bǐ
Meaning
- nounwriting brush
Example
他今天买了一支毛笔。tā jīn tiān mǎi le yì zhī máo bǐ
He bought a writing brush today.
More examples
他用毛笔写了一副对联。tā yòng máo bǐ xiě le yí fù duì lián
He wrote a couplet with a writing brush.
Core concept
A hair-tipped writing tool whose flexible point carries ink and varies from fine, light strokes to broad, dark ones.
Common phrases
用毛笔写字yòng máo bǐ xiě zì
write with a writing brush
买毛笔mǎi máo bǐ
buy a writing brush
Similar words
笔bǐ: A tool used for putting written marks or drawn lines on a surface.
钢笔gāng bǐ: A writing instrument that holds ink inside and releases it through a metal tip.
画笔huà bǐ: A brush used to make pictures or drawings, with different forms producing different strokes.
Definition in Chinese
毛笔是一种传统的书写和绘画工具，笔毫以动物毛或合成材料制成，通过笔触和墨量变化出线条的粗细与浓淡。máo bǐ shì yì zhǒng chuán tǒng de shū xiě hé huì huà gōng jù bǐ háo yǐ dòng wù máo huò hé chéng cái liào zhì chéng tōng guò bǐ chù hé mò liàng biàn huà chū xiàn tiáo de cū xì yǔ nóng dàn
Word origin
The compound 毛笔 (máobǐ, "writing brush") joins 毛 (máo, "hair or fur") with 笔 (bǐ, "brush"), naming the brush by the soft material at its tip.
Usage tips
- For English speakers, the word brush can suggest a hairbrush or paintbrush, while this Chinese noun narrows the picture to a soft-tipped ink tool.
Other meanings
- calligraphy brushnoun
Opposites
- 圆珠笔yuán zhū bǐballpoint pennoun
- 铅笔qiān bǐpencilnoun
Related words
- 毛笔字máo bǐ zìbrush calligraphynoun
- 毛笔画máo bǐ huàbrush paintingnoun