qǐbǐ

起笔

Word · Verb · NounTraditional起筆

start of a stroke; first stroke; opening of an article

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 9 examples
1.

verb

to start a brushstroke (in calligraphy)

formal

A specific term in Chinese calligraphy; involves the initial movement and pressure applied to the brush.

Shū书
fǎ法
jiǎng讲
jiu究
qǐ起
bǐ笔
hé和
shōu收
bǐ笔
 。

Calligraphy emphasizes the start and finish of strokes.

Xiě写
zì字
de的
shí时
hòu候
 ,
qǐ起
bǐ笔
yào要
dùn顿
yī一
dùn顿
 。

When writing, you should pause slightly at the start of a stroke.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
de的
qǐ起
bǐ笔
hěn很
yǒu有
lì力
 。

The start of his brushstrokes is very forceful.

2.

noun

first stroke of a character (in indexing systems)

technical

Used in methods for looking up Chinese characters in dictionaries, based on the shape or style of the first stroke.

Àn按
bǐ笔
huà画
jiǎn检
zì字
shí时
 ,
shǒu首
xiān先
yào要
què确
dìng定
zì字
de的
qǐ起
bǐ笔
 。

When looking up characters by stroke, you first need to determine the character's first stroke.

Zhè这
ge个
zì字
de的
qǐ起
bǐ笔
shì是
héng横
 。

The first stroke of this character is a horizontal line.

Show 1 more example
Yǒu有
xiē些
zì字
diǎn典
àn按
qǐ起
bǐ笔
de的
bǐ笔
xíng形
biān编
pái排
 。

Some dictionaries are arranged by the shape of the first stroke.

3.

noun

opening of an article; beginning of a piece of writing

literary

Often refers to the introductory sentence or paragraph of an essay, story, or other literary work.

Zhè这
piān篇
wén文
zhāng章
qǐ起
bǐ笔
bù不
luò落
sú俗
tào套
 。

The opening of this article is unconventional.

Yī一
gè个
hǎo好
de的
qǐ起
bǐ笔
néng能
lì立
kè刻
zhuā抓
zhù住
dú读
zhě者
 。

A good opening can immediately capture the reader.

Show 1 more example
Shī诗
rén人
zài在
zhè这
shǒu首
shī诗
de的
qǐ起
bǐ笔
jiù就
yíng营
zào造
le了
gū孤
dú独
de的
fēn氛
wéi围
 。

The poet creates a lonely atmosphere right from the opening of this poem.