临摹

臨摹

línmó

verb #37,058

Meanings

1 to copy (a calligraphic or painted model)
2 to trace from a master's work
3 to practice by replicating an original

Characters

approach; copy from beside

Examples

学书法要先临摹名家碑帖。

Xué shūfǎ yào xiān línmó míngjiā bēitiè.

To learn calligraphy you must first copy the works of masters.

他临摹了一幅《富春山居图》。

Tā línmó le yì fú 《Fùchūn Shānjū Tú》.

He copied a version of Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.

Tips

culture

临摹 is the core training method in Chinese calligraphy and painting. 临 (lín) means working from the original placed beside you, while 摹 (mó) means tracing through a transparent overlay — together they describe the full apprentice practice.

mistakes

Don't confuse with 模仿 (mófǎng, imitate). 临摹 specifically refers to copying art/calligraphy as a practice exercise; 模仿 is general imitation (behavior, style, voice).

Stroke Order

临 lín

摹 mó