笔误 (bǐ wù) — (noun) a slip of the pen, a writing mistake; (verb) to make a slip in writing

Definition

A written-only mistake — a slip made when writing (typing or handwriting), not a spoken one. Used as a noun for the mistake itself, or as a verb ('to slip in writing').

noun
a slip of the pena writing mistake
verb
to make a slip in writing
Measure word · 处

Examples

  • 笔误，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng yǒu jǐ gè bǐ wù, xū yào gǎi yí xià.
    There are a few slips of the pen in this article; they need to be corrected.
  • 笔误，“”“”。
    Tā xiě xìn shí bǐ wù le, bǎ "míng tiān" xiě chéng le "zuó tiān".
    He made a slip while writing the letter and wrote 'yesterday' instead of 'tomorrow'.
  • 笔误。
    Zhè ge hé tong shàng de bǐ wù kě néng huì yǐn qǐ fǎ lǜ jiū fēn.
    The slip of the pen in this contract might cause legal disputes.

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bǐpen
误wùmistake

A 误 (mistake) made with a 笔 (pen).

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 誤; 误 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
吳
吳wú誤wù
Same sound today

The traditional form 誤 uses 言 (speech) for meaning and 吳 for sound, giving the idea of speaking an error; the simplified 误 is a later shorthand.

Open 误 →

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