笔 (bǐ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 笔 (bǐ) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 笔 (bǐ) means "Pen, pencil, or brush". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 10 strokes and the radical ⺮.

Q: How do you write 笔 stroke by stroke?

笔 has 10 strokes. The radical is ⺮. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 笔 and 笑?

笔 (bǐ) and 笑 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 笔?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical ⺮. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 笔?

Common words containing 笔 include: 铅笔 (qiān bǐ) — pencil; 笔记 (bǐ jì) — notes; 毛笔 (máo bǐ) — Writing brush.

How to Write 笔

The character 笔 (bǐ) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical ⺮ is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

笔 is pronounced bǐ in Mandarin Chinese. It means Pen, pencil, or brush.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 笔 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 笔

铅笔 qiān bǐ

pencil

笔记 bǐ jì

notes

毛笔 máo bǐ

Writing brush

Example Sentences

我有一支铅笔。

wǒ yǒu yī zhī qiān bǐ

I have a pencil.

他在做笔记。

tā zài zuò bǐ jì

He is taking notes.

我学习写毛笔字。

wǒ xué xí xiě máo bǐ zì

I'm learning calligraphy.

Similar Characters

笑 xiào

笨 bèn

第 dì

Practice Writing 笔 (bǐ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 笔 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 笔

What does 笔 (bǐ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 笔 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 笔 and 笑?

What mistakes do learners make writing 笔?

What common words use 笔?

How to Write 笔 (bǐ)