毛笔
máo bǐ · HSK 5
brush
🖌️ 毛笔 = hair (毛) + pen (笔) — a brush made of animal hair
毛 means hair or fur, 笔 means pen or writing instrument. Together: a pen made of hair, i.e. the traditional Chinese calligraphy brush whose tip is bundled animal hair (often goat, wolf, or rabbit).
毛 — pictograph of hair/fur, 4 strokes
毛 is a pictograph showing a tuft of hair or animal fur, with strands fanning out from a base. The original oracle bone form depicted feathers or fur clearly, and the meaning broadened from 'hair/fur' to include 'wool,' 'down,' and figuratively 'tiny' or 'rough.' It also became a common surname.
笔 — bamboo radical 竹 (⺮) + 毛 (hair/fur)
Originally written 筆, depicting a writing brush: 竹 (bamboo) on top for the shaft and 毛 (hair) below for the bristles. Early brushes were bamboo handles tipped with animal hair. The simplified form 笔 keeps the same logic, just replacing the lower component directly with 毛.