写法 (xiě fǎ) — way of writing; penmanship; style of calligraphy

Definition

noun

way of writingpenmanshipstyle of calligraphy

写法，。
Tā de xiě fǎ hěn gōng zhěng, yí kàn jiù shì liàn guò de.
His penmanship is very neat; you can tell he's practiced.
写法，？
Zhè ge zì de xiě fǎ yǒu liǎng zhǒng, nǐ xué nǎ yì zhǒng?
This character has two ways of writing it; which one are you learning?
写法。
Gǔ dài shū fǎ jiā gè yǒu bù tóng de xiě fǎ.
Ancient calligraphers each had their own style of writing.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“写” (write) and “法” (method) combine to mean the way of writing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

宀舄寫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

舄

舄xì寫xiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé法fǎ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Appears in