书法 (shūfǎ): calligraphy

Meanings

1 calligraphy
2 penmanship

Characters

书

Examples

HSK 1

我在学习中国书法。

Wǒ zài xuéxí Zhōngguó shūfǎ.

I'm studying Chinese calligraphy.

HSK 2

他的书法写得非常漂亮。

Tā de shūfǎ xiě de fēicháng piàoliang.

His calligraphy is beautifully written.

HSK 5

这幅书法作品价值很高。

Zhè fú shūfǎ zuòpǐn jiàzhí hěn gāo.

This calligraphy piece is very valuable.

Tips

culture

书法 is one of the 'Four Arts' (琴棋书画) of Chinese scholars: music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

usage

The five main styles of Chinese calligraphy: 楷书 (regular), 行书 (running), 草书 (cursive), 隶书 (clerical), 篆书 (seal).

In Pop Culture

入木三分 rùmù-sānfēn

penetrating three-tenths of an inch into wood

Idiom about Wang Xizhi's powerful brushstrokes.

Stroke Order

书 shū

法 fǎ

Related Words

法书 fǎshū #27,700

model calligraphy; exemplary calligraphic work / calligraphy worthy of being a model or standard

软笔书法 ruǎnbǐ shūfǎ

brush calligraphy / soft-brush calligraphy (traditional Chinese calligraphy)

硬笔书法 yìngbǐ shūfǎ

hard-pen calligraphy (pen/pencil calligraphy, as opposed to brush)

说法 shuōfǎ HSK 5 #2,306

way of saying something; wording; formulation / statement; version (of events); argument

手法 shǒufǎ HSK 5 #4,335

technique; method; skill / trick; gimmick (negative) / artistic technique (in writing, painting, etc.)

违法 wéifǎ HSK 5 #3,751

illegal; unlawful / to break the law

证书 zhèngshū HSK 5 #8,461

certificate; credentials / diploma; certification

书桌 shūzhuō HSK 5 #13,181

desk / writing desk

法规 fǎguī HSK 5 #10,457

laws and regulations; legislation / statute; regulation

书房 shūfáng HSK 6 #8,263

study (room); home office / library (in a traditional house)