临摹 (lín mó) — to copy (a model of calligraphy or painting) as a learning technique

Definition

A specialized verb meaning to copy a calligraphy or painting model as a way to practice and learn the style — not casual copying like 抄 (transcribing text). Usually takes a model, a master's work, or a 字帖 / 作品 as its object.

verb
to copy (a model of calligraphy or painting) as a learning technique

Examples

  • 临摹羲。
    Tā měi tiān huā liǎng xiǎo shí lín mó wáng xī zhī de zì tiè.
    He spends two hours every day copying Wang Xizhi's calligraphy model.
  • ，临摹。
    Xué guó huà shí, lǎo shī ràng wǒ men xiān lín mó yì fú shān shuǐ.
    When learning Chinese painting, the teacher asked us to first copy a landscape piece.
  • 临摹。
    lín mó Míng jiā zuò pǐn shì tí gāo jì yì de zhòng yào tú jìng.
    Copying masters' works is an important way to improve one's skills.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

临líncopy by looking
摹mótrace

临 and 摹 both describe copying a model, one by looking and one by tracing.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摹 →

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