笔端 (bǐ duān) — (literary) the tip of the brush; the source of expression in writing or painting; the flow of one's thoughts rendered in artistic work

Definition

Literary term for the brush tip and, by extension, the ideas that flow from a writer's or painter's pen. Used almost entirely in formal writing about literary or artistic expression.

noun
(literary) the tip of the brushthe source of expression in writing or paintingthe flow of one's thoughts rendered in artistic work

Examples

  • 笔端。
    Tā de bǐ duān liú lù chū duì gù xiāng de shēn shēn juàn liàn.
    His writing revealed a deep attachment to his hometown.
  • 笔端。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā de bǐ duān chōng mǎn le shēng mìng lì hé líng qì.
    This painter's brush is full of vitality and spirit.
  • 笔端，。
    bǐ duān Zhī xià, shì jiān wàn wù jiē kě huà wéi wén zì.
    With the tip of the brush, everything in the world can be turned into words.

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
端duāntip/end

The 端 'tip/end' of a 笔 'brush' names the point where writing or drawing begins, hence the flow of thought expressed.

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 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.