tiàn

掭

Character · Verb

smooth brush; poke

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

verb

to smooth a brush on an inkstone after dipping in ink; to remove excess ink

Specific to traditional Chinese calligraphy. The brush is gently scraped or rolled on the inkstone to shape the tip and remove excess ink.

Tā他
xiě写
wán完
yī一
zì字
hòu后
 ，
zǒng总
yào要
qīng轻
qīng轻
tiàn掭
yī一
xià下
bǐ笔
 。

After writing each character, he always gently smooths his brush on the inkstone.

Shū书
fǎ法
jiā家
zài在
yàn砚
tái台
shàng上
tiàn掭
le了
tiàn掭
bǐ笔
 ，
yòu又
kāi开
shǐ始
huī挥
háo毫
 。

The calligrapher smoothed his brush on the inkstone and began to write again.

2.

verb

to poke; to prod; to adjust (dialect)

dialect

Used in some dialects, particularly for adjusting lamp wicks or poking objects.

Tā她
ná拿
qǐ起
tóng铜
qiān签
tiàn掭
le了
tiàn掭
dēng灯
xīn芯
 ，
wū屋
lǐ里
dùn顿
shí时
liàng亮
le了
xǔ许
duō多
 。

She picked up a copper pick and poked the lamp wick, making the room much brighter.

Yòng用
zhè这
gēn根
gùn棍
zi子
tiàn掭
yī一
xià下
nà那
gè个
kāi开
guān关
 。

Use this stick to poke that switch.