笔墨 bǐmò pen and ink
pen and ink; words; writing
How to remember 笔墨: 笔 pen + 墨 ink = pen and ink.
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How it is used
- Literally pen and ink; by extension, writing/words - 大费笔墨 (dà fèi bǐmò) to spend much ink on, to write at length; 笔墨难以形容 hard to describe in words.
- Chiefly figurative and literary, referring to written expression or an author's craft.
- Also literal in calligraphy/painting contexts (笔墨纸砚, the four treasures).