Learn Chinese Weekly

April showers bring May flowers. While waiting for the trees and plants to bloom, why not give Chinese calligraphy a try?

书法需要专注和技巧.
Shūfǎ xūyào zhuānzhù hé jìqiǎo.
Calligraphy demands concentration and skill.

中国书法是用尖头的圆柱形的毛笔来写的.
Zhōngguó shūfǎ shì yòng jiān tóu de yuánzhù xíng de máobǐ lái xiě de.
Chinese calligraphy is executed by using a pointed cylindrical brush.

小时, 我的祖父教我:
Xiǎoshí, wǒ de zǔfù jiào wǒ:
When I was little, my grandpa taught me,

“横毕直下; 直毕横下.”
Héng bì zhíxià; zhí bì héng xià.
“For horizontal strokes, first press down vertically;
for vertical strokes, first press down horizontally.”

按下多少的程度决定笔划的宽度.
Àn xià duōshǎo de chéngdù juédìng bǐhuà de kuāndù.
How far you press down determines the width of the stroke.

有些笔划需要保持恒定的宽度.
Yǒuxiē bǐhuà xūyào bǎochí héngdìng de kuāndù.
Some strokes require a constant width to be maintained.

某些笔画可能以点或钩结尾.
Mǒu xiē bǐhuà kěnéng yǐ diǎn huò gōu jiéwěi.
Certain strokes may end in a point or a hook.

行书体和草书体也有不规则的曲线。
Xíngshū tǐ hé cǎoshū tǐ yěyǒu bù guīzé de qūxiàn.
The running style and cursive style also involve irregular curves.

用湿毛笔在宣纸上写字不是件容易的事
Yòng shī máobǐ zài xuānzhǐ shàng xiězì bùshì jiàn róngyì de shì
Using a wet brush to write on xuan paper is not an easy task.

如果墨水太稀, 它会渗色.
Rúguǒ mòshuǐ tài xī, tā huì shènsè.
If the ink is too diluted, it will bleed.

如果墨水太浓, 它会使笔划迟钝.
Rúguǒ mòshuǐ tài nóng, tā huì shǐ bǐhuà chídùn.
If the ink is too thick, it will slow down the strokes.

如果你有兴趣，
Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu xìngqù,
If you are interested,

可以把这一页描红印在普通纸上练习.
Kěyǐ bǎ zhè yī yè miáohóng yìn zài pǔtōng zhǐ shàng liànxí.
you could print out this sheet of red hollow characters on plain paper to practice.

然后, 你可以尝试在宣纸上写中国书法.
Ránhòu, nǐ kěyǐ chángshì zài xuānzhǐ shàng xiě zhōngguó shūfǎ.
Later on, you could try writing Chinese calligraphy on xuan paper.

要注意使每个字以及每一行字都均匀且平稳.
Yào zhùyì shǐ měi gè zì yǐjí měi yī háng zì doū jūnyún qiě píngwěn.
Pay attention to make each word and each line of words even and balanced.

但是, 笔画不能生硬或死板.
Dànshì, bǐhuà bùnéng shēngyìng huò sǐbǎn.
However, the strokes should not be stiff or rigid.

精湛的书法能散发出活力与生气.
Jīngzhàn de shūfǎ néng sànfà chū huólì yǔ shēngqì.
Masterful calligraphy can exude energy and vitality.

As an example, watch this expert’s brush glide along and be inspired. Below is the simplified Chinese version of the four characters that he wrote:

晴耕雨读.
Qíng gēng yǔ dú.
When it’s sunny, plow; when it rains, read.

This phrase depicts the idyllic life that many of us dream about. What can be more enjoyable than having a garden or a small farm to tend to and having a good book to read? And when you get tired of reading, you could pick up the brush and immerse yourself in the pleasure of doing Chinese calligraphy.