Definition
毛笔 (máo bǐ) specifically refers to the traditional Chinese calligraphy brush, made with animal hair and used with ink — it's a subtype of the general term 笔 (bǐ), which covers any writing instrument like pens and pencils. 毛笔 is the tool for brush writing; 钢笔 (gāng bǐ) is a fountain pen, and 笔墨 (bǐ mò) refers figuratively to writing or composition.
noun
writing brush
Measure word · 枝, 管
Examples
- 毛笔。Tā sòng le wǒ yì zhī máo bǐ.He gave me a writing brush as a gift.
- 毛笔。Yéye měitiān yòng máo bǐ liàn zì.Grandpa practices calligraphy with a writing brush every day.
- 毛笔。Zhè guǎn máo bǐ shì péngyou cóng Zhōngguó dài lái de.This writing brush was brought from China by a friend.
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