Word information
Simplified投笔从戎
Traditional投筆從戎
Pinyintóu bǐ cóng róng
Part of speechDictionary
HSK 3.0Not listed
HSK 2.0Not listed
Chinese word dictionary
投笔从戎
tóu bǐ cóng róng · to lay down the pen and take up the sword (idiom); to join the military (esp. of educated person)
Character breakdown
Study each Hanzi separately, then return to the complete word so pronunciation, meaning, and movement stay connected.
How to learn 投笔从戎
Listen once without reading, repeat the pinyin with its tones, then write every character in sequence. Finally, recall the complete meaning instead of memorizing each character as an isolated translation.
When the word appears in a sentence, check whether its part of speech and meaning match the definition shown here. Chinese words can change nuance with context.
Related vocabulary
Words with the same characters
Compare how a familiar Hanzi changes meaning inside another word.
笔bǐ
writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc) (CL:支[zhi1],枝[zhi1]); brushstroke; stroke (in painting or calligraphy); (bound form) style of writing; literary manner; technique of brushwork; (classifier) stroke of a Chinese character; (classifier) sum of money; financial transaction; piece of business; (literary) to write (with a brush or pen)
从cóngfrom; through; via; (bound form) to follow; (bound form) to obey; (bound form) to engage in (an activity); (used before a negative) ever; (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zong4]) retainer; attendant; (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zong4]) assistant; auxiliary; subordinate; (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zong4]) related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor; surname Cong; variant of 從|从[cong2]
从小cóngxiǎofrom childhood; from a young age
笔记bǐjìto take down (in writing); notes; a type of literature consisting mainly of short sketches; CL:本[ben3]
笔记本bǐjìběnnotebook (stationery) (CL:本[ben3]); (computing) laptop; notebook (abbr. for 筆記本電腦|笔记本电脑[bi3 ji4 ben3 dian4 nao3])
铅笔qiānbǐ(lead) pencil; CL:支[zhi1],枝[zhi1],桿|杆[gan3]