Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先
意在笔先

意在笔先 — “Intention precedes the brush”

意在笔先 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to have a clear concept or fully developed idea before starting to write or paint; to plan meticulously before execution”. Literally, “Intention precedes the brush”.

Frequency

意在笔先 Pronunciation and Pinyin

意在笔先 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
意
yì13idea, meaning, intention
在
zài6to be at or in
笔
bǐ10writing tool, stroke, to write
先
xiān6First, before, or ancestors

Example Sentence with 意在笔先

这位设计师在每次项目开始前,都坚持意在笔先,确保每一个细节都经过深思熟虑。
Before starting each project, this designer always insists on having a clear concept first, ensuring every detail is well thought out.

Idioms Related to 意在笔先

Synonyms of 意在笔先

  • yì意zài在bǐ笔qián前think before writing

More idioms starting with 意

  • yì意zhōng中rén人one's beloved
  • yì意yì义shēn深cháng长profound and thought-provoking meaning
  • yì意luàn乱xīn心máng忙flustered and confused
  • yì意luàn乱xīn心huāng慌agitated and flustered
  • yì意xìng兴àng盎rán然full of zest and enthusiasm
  • yì意xìng兴suǒ索rán然to feel utterly bored or dispirited
  • yì意xìng兴lán阑shān珊to feel one's enthusiasm wane
  • yì意chū出wàng望wài外beyond all expectations
  • yì意qiè切yán言jǐn尽speak with earnestness and frankness
  • yì意qiè切cí辞jǐn尽express with utmost sincerity and thoroughness
  • yì意qián前bǐ笔hòu后Conceive fully before writing or painting
  • yì意hé合qíng情tóu投congenial and well-matched

Recommended tools

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Bingo Cards

Picture and word Bingo for your class

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Questions about 意在笔先

What does 意在笔先 mean?

意在笔先 (yì zài bǐ xiān) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to have a clear concept or fully developed idea before starting to write or paint; to plan meticulously before execution”.

How do you pronounce 意在笔先?

意在笔先 is pronounced yì zài bǐ xiān in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 意在笔先 literally mean?

Literally, 意在笔先 means “Intention precedes the brush”. It is used to mean “to have a clear concept or fully developed idea before starting to write or paint; to plan meticulously before execution”.

What is the Chinese definition of 意在笔先?

指写字画画,先构思成熟,然后下笔。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us