笔墨纸砚

筆墨紙硯

bǐmòzhǐyàn

idiom

Meanings

1 brush, ink, paper, and ink-stone
2 the four tools of Chinese calligraphy

Characters

Examples

学习书法需要准备笔墨纸砚。

Xuéxí shūfǎ xūyào zhǔnbèi bǐ mò zhǐ yàn.

Learning calligraphy requires preparing brush, ink, paper, and ink-stone.

这家店专卖笔墨纸砚。

Zhè jiā diàn zhuānmài bǐ mò zhǐ yàn.

This shop specializes in brushes, ink, paper, and ink-stones.

Tips

usage

笔墨纸砚 lists the Four Treasures of the Study in their canonical order. Compare with the synonym 文房四宝, which names the concept (Four Treasures of the Study); 笔墨纸砚 names the items directly and is more concrete.

Stroke Order

笔 bǐ

墨 mò

纸 zhǐ

砚 yàn