笔

• Pinyin: bǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 笔 (bǐ) — pen, brush; simplified from 筆, which shows bamboo (竹) over a hand holding a brush (聿)

Meaning

Pen; writing instrument. Also functions as a measure word for sums of money or strokes of a brush.

Primarily means a pen or other writing instrument (including 铅笔 pencil, 钢笔 fountain pen, 毛笔 brush). As a measure word: 一笔钱 (a sum of money), 一笔交易 (a transaction).

Examples

1. 你能借我一支笔吗？我忘带了。 Could you lend me a pen? I forgot to bring one.
2. 我需要买一支新笔来上课。 I need to buy a new pen for class.
3. 这是一笔很大的投资。 This is a very large sum of investment.

Usage Guide

Context: stationery, writing, calligraphy, financial transactions

Tone: neutral, everyday

Do Say

• 请给我一支笔。(Please give me a pen.)
• 这支笔写起来很顺。(This pen writes very smoothly.)

Don't Say

• Do not omit the measure word 支 when counting pens — say 一支笔 (one pen), not 一笔, as 一笔 typically means 'a stroke' or 'a sum of money'.

Origin & History

The traditional character 筆 shows 竹 (bamboo) over 聿 (a hand holding a brush), reflecting the ancient bamboo brush used for writing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal