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毛笔 (máo bǐ) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

毛笔 (máo bǐ) is a Chinese word: writing brush. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 毛笔

名 míng noun

writing brush

我爷爷教我用毛笔写字。

wǒ yé ye jiāo wǒ yòng máo bǐ xiě zì

My grandfather teaches me to write with a writing brush.

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Word breakdown

毛 máo — hair/bristles (the material of the brush tip)

Words with this character (7)
Show more (+2)

笔 bǐ — pen/writing instrument (the tool aspect)

Words with this character (6)
  • 1 笔记 bǐ jì — notes HSK 3
    • 笔 writing, written
    • 记 record, note down
    Example

    我需要整理一下课堂笔记。

    wǒ xū yào zhěng lǐ yī xià kè táng bǐ jì

    I need to organize my class notes.

  • 2 笔记本 bǐ jì běn — notebook HSK 3
    • 笔 writing, pen (indicates writing-related purpose)
    • 记 to record, notes (indicates function of recording information)
    • 本 book, volume (indicates physical form as a bound book)
    Example

    我买了一个新笔记本。

    wǒ mǎi le yí gè xīn bǐ jì běn

    I bought a new notebook.

  • 3 铅笔 qiān bǐ — pencil HSK 3
    • 铅 lead (the graphite material)
    • 笔 pen, writing instrument
    Example

    我用铅笔写作业。

    wǒ yòng qiān bǐ xiě zuò yè

    I use a pencil to write homework.

  • 4 笔试 bǐ shì — written test HSK 4
    • 笔 written (pen/writing)
    • 试 test/examination
    Example

    这次招聘包括笔试和面试。

    zhè cì zhāo pìn bāo kuò bǐ shì hé miàn shì

    This recruitment includes a written test and an interview.

  • 5 钢笔 gāng bǐ — fountain pen HSK 6
    • 钢 steel (referring to the metal nib)
    • 笔 pen; writing instrument
    Example

    他送给我一支钢笔。

    tā sòng gěi wǒ yì zhī gāng bǐ

    He gave me a fountain pen.

Show more (+1)
Structure & writing
1 毛 máo — hair or fur on animals and plants, serving as protection and insulation
毛 is a component in 8 characters
HSK 2
笔 bǐ writing or drawing instrument; pen, brush 表 biǎo exterior, outside (opposite of 'inside'); ① outward, external ② outer appearance
HSK 5
尾 wěi tail; the projecting end part of a bird, beast, insect, or fish
HSK 6
毫 háo fine, pointed hair on a person or animal 耗 hào to consume, deplete
HSK 7
撬 qiào to pry; to lever open by inserting a rod, knife, or awl into a crack or hole and forcing the other end 毯 tǎn blanket; thick woven fabric with a fluffy pile 髦 máo short hair hanging over a young child's forehead (classical)

毛 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 笔 bǐ — writing or drawing instrument; pen, brush

笔 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 ⺮ zhú — bamboo radical
⺮ is a component in 31 characters
HSK 1
第 dì prefix placed before integers to indicate ordinal number (e.g. 第一, 第十)
HSK 2
笑 xiào to smile or laugh with joy 笔 bǐ writing or drawing instrument; pen, brush 等 děng equal in quantity, status, or degree 篮 lán basket (made of rattan, bamboo, or wicker, with a handle)
HSK 3
答 dá to answer, to reply 筷 kuài chopsticks (~子: thin sticks of bamboo, wood, metal, etc. used to pick up food) 简 jiǎn simple, simplified (opposite of 繁) 算 suàn to calculate; to count 箱 xiāng box; chest; trunk (a rectangular container with a lid for storing or transporting goods or clothing)
HSK 4
符 fú tally or token used by the imperial court to convey orders or mobilize troops, made of metal, jade, bamboo, or wood, split in two halves 笨 bèn stupid; slow-witted 签 qiān to sign one's name or mark on a document to indicate responsibility 管 guǎn bamboo tube; pipe; tube 篇 piān a structurally complete literary or poetic work; a major section of a larger work
Show more HSK 4 characters (+1)
籍 jí books; records and catalogues
HSK 5
筑 zhù to build; to construct
HSK 6
笼 lóng cage or basket made of bamboo, wood, or wire for holding birds, animals, or objects 筒 tǒng thick bamboo tube 策 cè ancient bamboo or wooden strips compiled into a bound volume 筛 shāi sieve; screen made of bamboo strips or wire with small holes to separate fine from coarse material 筹 chóu tally stick; thin strip of bamboo, wood, or ivory used for counting or as a token
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
箭 jiàn arrow (ancient weapon with a pointed tip and feathered shaft, shot from a bow or crossbow)
HSK 7
竿 gān bamboo pole, the main stem of bamboo 笛 dí dizi (Chinese transverse bamboo flute) 筋 jīn tendon or ligament connecting muscle to bone 筐 kuāng basket woven from bamboo or wicker 筝 zhēng guzheng (Chinese zither), a plucked string instrument
Show more HSK 7 characters (+3)
篷 péng awning or canopy (made of bamboo, matting, or canvas, esp. on vehicles or boats) for shelter from sun, wind, and rain 簇 cù to cluster together; to gather in a group 簸 bǒ to winnow (grain) by shaking in a flat basket to remove husks and chaff
2.2 毛 máo — hair or fur on animals and plants, serving as protection and insulation
毛 is a component in 8 characters
HSK 2
笔 bǐ writing or drawing instrument; pen, brush 表 biǎo exterior, outside (opposite of 'inside'); ① outward, external ② outer appearance
HSK 5
尾 wěi tail; the projecting end part of a bird, beast, insect, or fish
HSK 6
毫 háo fine, pointed hair on a person or animal 耗 hào to consume, deplete
HSK 7
撬 qiào to pry; to lever open by inserting a rod, knife, or awl into a crack or hole and forcing the other end 毯 tǎn blanket; thick woven fabric with a fluffy pile 髦 máo short hair hanging over a young child's forehead (classical)

Stroke order