落款 (luò kuǎn) — to inscribe (a name, date, or dedication on a painting, calligraphy, gift, etc.)

Definition

落款 (luòkuǎn) means to write one's name, date, or a short dedication on a painting, calligraphy work, or gift — sealing it as the maker's mark. It can also refer to the inscription itself (the words written).

verb
to inscribe (a name, date, or dedication on a painting, calligraphy, gift, etc.)

Examples

  • 落款。
    Zhè fú huà hái méi yǒu luò kuǎn.
    This painting has not yet been inscribed.
  • 。
    Tā zài zhè běn shū shàng luò le zì jǐ de kuǎn.
    He inscribed his own name on this book.
  • ，。
    Qǐng bāng wǒ luò gè kuǎn, xiě shàng wǒ de míng zì hé rì qī.
    Please help me put an inscription on it, writing my name and the date.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

落luòleave or write
款kuǎnsignature

落 means to leave or write down, 款 the signature or dedication; together they mean to inscribe.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
洛
洛luò落luò
Same sound today

落 pairs 艹 with 洛; 洛 gives the sound, and 艹 relates to the meaning.

Open 落 →

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
欠欠qiànlacking, desire
Sound part声符shēngfú
柰
柰nài款kuǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

款 pairs 柰, a sound hint, with 欠, a part about lacking or desire.

Open 款 →

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