蒙學漢文初階 第四十五之課 Beginning Chinese - Entry Level Lesson #45 張童不能寫字 Chang boy not able write characters 怨筆不佳 complain pen not good 父曰爾不能書當自怨 father said you not able write ought self complain 勿怨紙筆 not complain paper pen A boy named Chang was unable to write properly and complained that the brush is not good. The father said, "You cannot write well, you should complain about yourself, not the brush or the paper!" Notes: 1. The translation of "不能寫字" should be "unable to write". However, in this context it is not that the child cannot write but unable to write well. Using a brush to write is more difficult to write with a fountain pen or a ballpoint. 2. 書 as a noun is "book" but as a verb "to write". However in this context, it means 書法 or "The Law of Writing" aka Chinese calligraphy. In Japanese, it is known as 書道, "The Way of Writing" and in Korea, 書藝, "The Art of Writing". All these have subtle meanings and hence the way they are presented.