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书法 (shū fǎ) — Chinese calligraphy (as an art form and cultural practice)

Definition

书法 is calligraphy as a traditional Chinese art form and cultural practice — not just handwriting. Compare 书画 (painting + calligraphy together) and 字体 (the style or typeface itself).

noun
Chinese calligraphy (as an art form and cultural practice)

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ měi zhōu dōu qù shàng shū fǎ kè.
    I go to calligraphy class every week.
  • 书法。
    Zhè fú shū fǎ zuò pǐn fēi cháng yōu měi.
    This calligraphy piece is very elegant.
  • 书法。
    shū fǎ Shì zhōng guó chuán tǒng wén huà de zhòng yào zǔ chéng bù fen.
    Calligraphy is an important part of traditional Chinese culture.

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.

书shūwriting
法fǎmethod/art

书 denotes writing, and 法 denotes method or art, giving the art 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 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 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Art & Fine ArtsChinese Culture & Customs

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.