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法书 (fǎ shū) — model calligraphy (a piece of calligraphy used as a model for learning); (polite) your calligraphy, your esteemed handwriting

Definition

法书 (fǎshū) means both 'model calligraphy' (a masterwork used to copy) and a polite way of praising someone's own handwriting ('your calligraphy'). The second sense is a humble, respectful compliment.

noun
model calligraphy (a piece of calligraphy used as a model for learning)(polite) your calligraphyyour esteemed handwriting
Measure word · 幅

Examples

  • 法书羲。
    Zhè fú fǎ shū shì wáng xī zhī de zuò pǐn.
    This piece of model calligraphy is a work by Wang Xizhi.
  • 法书！
    Nín de fǎ shū xiě dé zhēn hǎo!
    Your calligraphy is really well written!
  • 法书。
    Zhè běn fǎ shū shì hěn hǎo de xué xí cái liào.
    This model calligraphy book is a very good learning material.

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.

法fǎmodel
书shūwriting

法 as model and 书 as writing together mean calligraphy used as a model.

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
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.

Open 法 →

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 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →
Appears in
Art & Fine Arts

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