模本 (mó běn) — a model or copy used as a reference in calligraphy or painting

Definition

A master copy (often a rubbing or tracing) of calligraphy or painting that you study or copy from. Distinct from 临摹 (the act of copying) and 字帖 (a calligraphy copybook).

noun
a model or copy used as a reference in calligraphy or painting
Measure word · 本
Easily confused

Examples

  • 模本。
    Zhè běn mó běn shì sòng dài shū fǎ jiā de zuò pǐn.
    This model is the work of a Song dynasty calligrapher.
  • 模本。
    Tā měi tiān àn zhào mó běn liàn xí máo bǐ zì.
    He practices calligraphy every day following the model.
  • 模本。
    Zhè fú huà shì gēn jù yí gè gǔ dài mó běn lín mó de.
    This painting was copied from an ancient model.

Origin

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.

模mómodel
本běncopy

模 gives the idea of a model, and 本 gives a copy or text, together naming a reference copy.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò模mó
Same sound today

The left part 木 is tree; the right part 莫 gives the sound.

Open 模 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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