| 走偏锋 | zǒu piān fēng | to write with the tip of the brush tilted / (fig.) to resort to devious means | 
| 走 | zǒu | to walk / to go / to run / to move (of vehicle) / to visit / to leave / to go away / to die (euph.) / from / through / away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走) / to change (shape, form, meaning) | 
| 走偏 | zǒu piān | to deviate from the correct course / (fig.) to go astray | 
| 偏 | piān | to lean / to slant / oblique / prejudiced / to deviate from average / to stray from the intended line / stubbornly / contrary to expectations | 
| 偏锋 | piān fēng | (calligraphy) technique in which the shaft of the brush is held at a low angle, so that the tip of the brush runs along the edge of the stroke (cf. 正锋 and 侧锋) / (fig.) unorthodox or improper way of doing things | 
| 锋 | fēng | point of a spear / edge of a tool / vanguard / forward (in sports team) |