64882
I am wondering why is it that 言 looks different in different fonts. In Gothic,
the topmost part is just a horizontal line while in Google Search, it is a
drop. I am really confused about what is really the proper way of writing this
kanji.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-13T16:07:44.163
64873
2019-01-14T03:21:23.783
2019-01-13T17:08:56.103
32543
question
kanji stroke-type
What is the proper way of writing the first stroke of 言?
言's first stroke is different in handwriting and in computer code, mainly
because it is more recognizeble in lower resolutions as a horizontal line.

When you are handwriting, you should draw the first stroke like shown in the
picture, as a diagonal line:

![notice that the app recognized the
kanji](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rVx0E.png)

Notice that in most digital media, the word kanji(言)'s first stroke is a
horizontal line
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-13T20:24:13.660
64879
2019-01-13T20:24:13.660
32397
64873
answer
**Handwritten** _kanji_ should follow the shapes of [教科書体]{きょうかしょたい} (
_textbook fonts_ ). If you're unsure of the handwritten shape, you can utilise
font previews to check what they're supposed to be. For example, [HG
Kyokashotai by Ricoh](https://www.fonts.com/font/ricoh/hg-kyokashotai/hg-
kyokashotai) displays the shape as

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s3DVT.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s3DVT.png)

* * *

Handwritten shapes are different from Gothic, because they come from two
separate traditions. Handwriting derives from [regular
script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script) brush calligraphy (楷書),
while Gothic is derived from [Ming
typeface](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_\(typefaces\)) (明朝体).

The shape of「言」( _to speak_ ) can be traced like the following. Note
that「言」was originally comprised of one or two horizontal marks in the shape
of「一・二」on top of「舌」( _tongue_ ).

> **Series A** - Ancient inscription styles
>
> # `Ａ１  
> [商](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty)  
> [甲](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w4bgZ.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/w4bgZ.png)  
> [甲](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)499  
> [合集30697](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=30697&jgwfl=)``Ａ２  
> [西周](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou)  
> [金](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/NHFAG.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/NHFAG.png)  
> 伯矩鼎  
> [集成2456](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=2456&jgwfl=)``Ａ３  
> [戰國](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period)  
> 金  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LkSsy.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LkSsy.png)  
> 中山王方壺  
> [集成9735](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=9735&jgwfl=)``Ａ４  
>  
> [篆](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/b8Ik8.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/b8Ik8.png)  
> [說文解字](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi)  
>  `
>
> **Series B** - Brush or pen writing styles
>
> # `Ｂ１  
> [楚](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_\(state\))  
> [簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/eXWam.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/eXWam.png)  
>
> [信1](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/ChuwenziReference)・03  
>  ``Ｂ２  
> [秦](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty)  
> 簡  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RKHJn.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RKHJn.png)  
>
> [睡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts)・[秦](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/QinwenziReference)1  
>  ``Ｂ３  
> [西漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Western_Han)  
> 篆・[隸](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4jMaE.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4jMaE.png)  
> [老子](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching)・甲  
>  ``Ｂ４  
>
> [晉](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_dynasty_\(265%E2%80%93420\))・[王羲之](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Xizhi)  
> [楷](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sCdZU.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sCdZU.png)  
> [蘭亭序](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid_Pavilion_Gathering)  
>  ``Ｂ５  
> 今  
> 楷  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/J4MC0.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/J4MC0.png)  
> [HG正楷書体](https://www.fonts.com/font/ricoh/hg-seikaishotai-pro)  
>  ``Ｂ６  
>  
> [教科書體](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script#Derivatives)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Pw6Fs.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Pw6Fs.png)  
> [HG教科書体](https://www.fonts.com/font/ricoh/hg-kyokashotai)  
>  `
>
> **Series C** - Print styles
>
> # `Ｃ１  
> [宋](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_dynasty)  
> [宋朝體](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_Song)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YnOu9.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YnOu9.png)  
> 朱慶餘詩集  
>  ``Ｃ２  
> [清](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_dynasty)  
> [明朝體](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_\(typefaces\))  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QStJI.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QStJI.png)  
> [康熙字典](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangxi_Dictionary)  
>  ``Ｃ３  
> 今  
> 明朝體  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T3rPo.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/T3rPo.png)  
> [HG明朝](https://www.fonts.com/font/ricoh/hg-mincho)  
>  ``Ｃ４  
>  
> [ゴシック體](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asian_Gothic_typeface)  
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h3YhP.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/h3YhP.png)  
> [HGゴシック](https://www.fonts.com/font/ricoh/hg-gothic)  
>  `

The handwritten and print styles are both newer than the ancient inscription
styles, and have shapes which originate from one of the older styles. However,
they will also often develop in their own way, whilst sometimes incorporating
features from an older style.

The drop in「言」has long been a brush calligraphy feature (see transition
from「Ｂ３」to「Ｂ４」), and was passed on to the earliest print shape「Ｃ１」, but later
print styles changed in their aesthetic qualities, and sometimes also re-
incorporated features from older inscription shapes.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-14T03:13:06.147
64882
2019-01-14T03:21:23.783
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
-1
26510
64873
answer