毛筆

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 毛筆(もうひつ) means a hair-bristle writing brush, especially one used for calligraphy.
• Basic usage: It is used when writing with a brush or selecting an appropriate brush. Typical patterns are 毛筆で名前を書く and 毛筆を選ぶ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinguish tool and writing-method contexts
  • It can name the brush itself and, in 毛筆で書く, indicate writing performed with that kind of brush.
• Difference from 筆
  • 筆(ふで) is the broad everyday word for a brush, while 毛筆 explicitly identifies a hair-bristle or calligraphy brush.