琴棋书画 (qín-qí-shū-huà) — the four arts of the Chinese scholar (guqin, Go, calligraphy, and painting); accomplishments of a well-educated person

Definition

A set phrase for the four traditional arts a Chinese scholar was expected to master: 琴 (guqin), 棋 (Go), 书 (calligraphy), 画 (painting). 书法 names the calligraphy art on its own; this phrase bundles all four as cultural ideals of a well-educated person.

phrase
the four arts of the Chinese scholar (guqin, Go, calligraphy, and painting)accomplishments of a well-educated person

Examples

  • 琴棋书画
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù kāi shǐ xué xí qín-qí-shū-huà.
    He started learning the four arts from childhood.
  • 琴棋书画
    qín-qí-shū-huà Dài biǎo le zhōng guó gǔ dài wén rén de cái yì.
    The four arts represent the talents of ancient Chinese scholars.
  • 琴棋书画
    Yào xiǎng chéng wéi yí wèi wén rén, bì xū jīng tōng qín-qí-shū-huà.
    To become a scholar, one must master the four arts.

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