(xiě) - To write & to copy

Tone 3

xiě | 14 strokes | radical:

· xiě

To write;

to copy;

to transcribe;

to depict;

to describe.

To writeto copyto transcribe

Usage highlights

to writeto copy textto write a letterto describe sceneryto transcribe documentswriting brush

Synonyms

  • to write (standard modern form)
  • to write; to book
  • to record; to transcribe

Antonyms

  • to read
  • to erase
  • to delete

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need to write a letter (冩信).
  • She is copying the text (冩字).
  • He is writing a novel (冩小说).
  • The artist depicted the landscape beautifully (冩景).

Collocations

  • to write(冩作)
  • to copy text(冩字)
  • to write a letter(冩信)
  • to describe scenery(冩景)
  • to transcribe documents(冩录)
  • writing brush(冩笔)

Idioms

  • To write with ease and fluency(挥毫冩意)
  • To describe vividly(绘声冩色)
  • To copy the form but lose the spirit(冩形失神)
  • Literary talent spilling over(才气横冩)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 冩 is an ancient variant of 寫 (write), historically used in classical texts and calligraphy.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, writing was considered one of the four arts of the scholar-gentleman.
  • The character appears in many classical literary works and historical documents.

FAQ