意存笔先，画尽意在
yì​cún​bǐ​xiān​huà​jìn​yì​zài

the idea remains after the painting is finished

  1. 意 yì verb
    meaning
    (bound form) meaning; idea; thought
  2. 存 cún verb
    to exist
    to exist; to live; to survive; to remain on balance or be in stock
  3. 笔 筆 bǐ noun
    pen
    writing or drawing instrument; pen; pencil; writing brush
  4. 先 xiān adverb
    first
    earlier in time or sequence; beforehand; in advance
  5. ， huà
    non-Chinese
  6. 画 畫 huà verb
    to draw
    to draw; to paint; to depict; to decorate with paintings or pictures
  7. 尽 盡 jìn verb
    to use up
    to use up; to exhaust; to finish; to end
  8. 意 yì verb
    meaning
    (bound form) meaning; idea; thought
  9. 在 zài verb
    to exist
    To exist, live, or be alive.