掭 (tiàn) - To dip & to moisten a writing brush with ink

掭Tone 4

tiàn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

掭 · tiàn

To dip;

to moisten a writing brush with ink;

to stir or poke gently.

To dipto moisten a writing brush with inkto stir or poke gently.

Usage highlights

dip a brushstir firemoisten with inkadjust the tipdip and write

Synonyms

  • 蘸— to dip in
  • 润— to moisten

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He dipped his brush in ink (掭笔).
  • She gently stirred the fire with a stick (用棍子掭火).
  • The calligrapher carefully prepared the ink (书法家掭墨).

Collocations

  • dip a brush(掭笔)
  • stir fire(掭火)
  • moisten with ink(掭墨)
  • adjust the tip(掭毫)
  • dip and write(掭写)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily associated with traditional Chinese calligraphy and ink preparation.
  • The action of 'tiàn' is a precise, careful motion in brush handling.
  • Reflects the meticulous nature of classical literary arts.

FAQ