Phrase guide

clerical script

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An archaic style of Chinese calligraphy, dominant during the Han dynasty. Characters are rather wide (in comparison with modern styles), with long, bold, and deliberate sweeping strokes. Unlike the preceding seal script, it is still easily legible to modern readers, and thus remains in decorative use.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque from Chinese 隸書/隶书 (lìshū). Tradition holds that clerical script developed out of the needs of clerks.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 隸書 /隶书 (lìshū) — style of Chinese calligraphy
  • Finnish: kirjurikirjoitus — style of Chinese calligraphy
  • Vietnamese: lệ thư — style of Chinese calligraphy