笔力 (bǐ lì) — vigor and expressive power of brushstrokes in calligraphy or painting; forcefulness and impact of literary style

Definition

Refers to the strength and expressive power in brushstrokes (calligraphy/painting) or in written prose. It is a literary, evaluative noun — not a neutral description of technique, but a compliment on force and impact.

noun
vigor and expressive power of brushstrokes in calligraphy or paintingforcefulness and impact of literary style
Easily confused

Examples

  • 笔力，。
    Zhè fú huà de bǐ lì fēi cháng xióng jiàn, kě jiàn huà jiā gōng lì shēn hòu.
    The brushwork of this painting is exceptionally vigorous, showing the painter's deep skill.
  • 笔力，。
    Tā de wén zhāng bǐ lì lǎo dào, dú lái lìng rén zhé fú.
    His writing has a mature and forceful style that convinces the reader.
  • 笔力，。
    Xué shū fǎ shǒu xiān yào liàn hǎo bǐ lì, bú shì yí wèi qiú xíng sì.
    When learning calligraphy, you must first practice the vigor of strokes, not just aim for formal resemblance.

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.

笔bǐbrush
力lìforce

“笔” means brush and “力” means force, so it denotes the force of brushwork or style.

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 筆; 笔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
聿
聿yù筆bǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The simplified 笔 is based on the traditional form 筆, which puts 竹 (bamboo) beside 聿 (writing brush). 聿 already meant the brush and supplied the sound; 竹 was added later to show it was made of bamboo.

Open 笔 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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