The Calligrapher — Yán Zhēnqīng 颜真卿

Tang master of robust regular script; co-creator of the enduring 'Yan style'.

Tang calligrapher (709–784), master of regular script/running script — the Tang moral paragon whose upright, muscular regular script became the model of Chinese integrity in writing. Tang dynasty

Cultural Story

In the classical tradition: 哪 is a late interrogative from 口 with 那, asking which or where, and grew out of 那 in vernacular speech. Classical Chinese used 何, 安, 奚 for 'where,' but 哪 took over the living tongue. 哪裡 asks where, 哪個 which person, 哪些 which ones; 哪怕, 'even if,' concedes a point. It is the word of curiosity and choice in markets, maps, and modern conversation alike.

Common words & phrases

• 哪里 where · wherever
• 哪个 which · who
• 哪些 which ones · what
• 哪怕 even if · even though
• 哪边 which side · where

Read the story behind the character

In the modern world: You ask 哪裡 — where — the station is, and 哪個, which, train to take, then 哪些, which ones, seats are free. A friend says 哪怕, even if, it rains, we still hike. On the map app 哪邊, which side, do we turn at the bridge? 哪 is the daily question mark of a person navigating a busy, choice-filled city.