The Calligrapher — Lù Yóu 陆游

Song poet of prolific, vigorous running and cursive script.

Song calligrapher (), master of running script/cursive script — known for 《自书诗卷》. Song dynasty

Cultural Story

呼 sets 口 (mouth) with 乎 (a phonetic), to call, shout, or breathe. 莊子 pairs 呼吸 (breathe) with the cosmic wind, and 詩經 shepherds 呼唤 (call/summon) the strayed. A traveler 呼救 (cries for help) in peril, and a ruler's 呼吁 (appeal) rallies the realm. The character is the outward breath of voice and life—warning, summoning, pleading—the mouth reaching beyond itself to others across distance and danger alike in the world.

Common words & phrases

• 呼吸 breathe · breath · respiration
• 呼唤 call · summon · hail
• 呼喊 shout · cry out · call
• 招呼 greet · say hello · call
• 呼吁 appeal · call on
• 呼救 call for help · cry for help

Read the story behind the character

You 呼吸 (breathe) calmly in yoga, and a lost hiker 呼救 (calls for help). A friend 呼唤 (calls/summons) you from the crowd, while fans 呼喊 (shout/cry out) a name at the concert. We 招呼 (greet) neighbors with a nod, and charities 呼吁 (appeal/call on) donors after a disaster. The character carries modern breath and voice—from meditation apps to emergency alerts, greetings to global pleas for help.