How to write 笔 (bǐ, “writing brush”)
笔 (bǐ), an HSK 2 character, means “writing brush”, “brushstroke” and “style of writing”. The traditional form is 筆, 12 strokes instead of 10. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 笔记 (“to take down”), 笔记本 (“notebook”) and 铅笔 (“(lead) pencil”). Japanese reads it hitsu, “writing brush”.
- Pinyin
- bǐ
- Strokes
- 10
- HSK
- 2
- Radical
- ⺮ (“bamboo”)
- Traditional
- 筆
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
As a top-bottom character it splits into ⺮ (“bamboo”, the radical), strokes 1–6; 毛 (“hair”), strokes 7–10, written the top first.
- top leftdown and right → down and left
- top leftrightwards
- top leftdown and right
- topdown and right → down and left
- toprightwards
- topdown and right
- centerleftwards
- leftrightwards
- bottom leftrightwards
- centerdownwards → rightwards → upwards
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 笔 · 10 strokes
- Traditional
- 筆 · 12 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| bǐ third tone | writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc); brushstroke; stroke (in painting or calligraphy); (bound form) style of writing; literary manner; technique of brushwork; (classifier) stroke of a Chinese character; (classifier) sum of money; financial transaction; piece of business | 筆 | 笔记 笔记本 铅笔 笔试 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 2
- 2021 standard
- level 2
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 3 word
- Words with it
- 150 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 笔
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 笔 筆 | bǐ | writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc) HSK 2 |
| 笔记 筆記 | bǐjì | to take down; notes HSK 3 |
| 笔记本 筆記本 | bǐjìběn | notebook (stationery); (computing) laptop HSK 3 |
| 铅笔 鉛筆 | qiānbǐ | (lead) pencil HSK 3 |
| 笔试 筆試 | bǐshì | written examination; paper test (for an applicant) HSK 4 |
| 毛笔 毛筆 | máobǐ | writing brush HSK 5 |
| 钢笔 鋼筆 | gāngbǐ | fountain pen HSK 6 |
| 笔墨 筆墨 | bǐmò | pen and ink; words HSK 7-9 |
| 下笔 下筆 | xiàbǐ | to put pen to paper |
| 五笔 五筆 | wǔbǐ | abbr. of 五筆字型 or 五笔字型, five stroke input method for Chinese… |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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HSK 2, in list order: