How to Write 砚 (yàn) — Meaning “Inkstone”

Picture a stone (石) that has a small well shaped like the character 见 (see) where you dip your brush. You need to see (见) the ink level in the well, so the whole image reminds you of an inkstone.

Make sure the left radical 石 is written a bit narrower and shorter than the right side 见. The bottom of 见 must end with a vertical hook, not just a straight line, and the top 'mouth' shape inside 见 should be small.

All three have the stone radical 石 on the left, but their right sides differ. 矶 (jī) has 几 (small table) and means a rock in water; 矸 (gān) has 干 (dry) and means waste rock or gangue; 砚 (yàn) has 见 (see) and specifically refers to the inkstone used in calligraphy.

砚 appears in formal terms like 砚台 (yàn tāi, inkstone) and 笔砚 (bǐ yàn, brush and inkstone set). It is one of the Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝), so it represents traditional Chinese calligraphy culture and is still valued by artists and collectors today.

Common words containing 砚 include: 砚台 (yàn tāi) — Inkstone; 笔砚 (bǐ yàn) — brush and inkstone; 砚池 (yàn chí) — Inkstone well.