下笔

下筆

xiàbǐ

verb #44,869

Meanings

1 to put pen to paper
2 to start writing
3 to begin painting

Characters

Examples

他想了很久才下笔。

Tā xiǎng le hěn jiǔ cái xiàbǐ.

He thought for a long time before putting pen to paper.

画家下笔非常有力。

Huàjiā xiàbǐ fēicháng yǒulì.

The painter's brushstrokes are very forceful.

这道题太难，我无从下笔。

Zhè dào tí tài nán, wǒ wúcóng xiàbǐ.

This question is too hard; I don't know where to begin.

Tips

culture

Literally 'lowering the brush,' referring to the moment of touching brush to paper. 无从下笔 ('no way to start writing') is a common idiom for writer's block.

Stroke Order

下 xià

笔 bǐ