铅笔

• Pinyin: qiān bǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 铅 = 钅(metal) + 㕣 (phonetic) — lead metal; 笔 = 竹 (bamboo) + 毛 (hair) — writing brush

Meaning

Pencil. A writing instrument with a graphite core encased in wood.

The standard term for pencils used in writing, drawing, and sketching. Common phrases include 削铅笔 (sharpen a pencil), 铅笔芯 (pencil lead), and 自动铅笔 (mechanical pencil). Despite the name containing 铅 (lead), modern pencils use graphite, not lead.

Examples

1. 考试只能用铅笔填写答题卡。 You can only use pencils to fill in the answer sheet on the exam.
2. 她喜欢用铅笔画素描，因为可以随时修改。 She likes to sketch with pencils because she can make changes anytime.
3. 我的铅笔断了，借我一支好吗？ My pencil broke — can I borrow one?

Usage Guide

Context: school, art, office

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 帮我削一下铅笔。(Help me sharpen the pencil.)
• 用铅笔写的字可以擦掉。(Words written in pencil can be erased.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'铅笔'和'圆珠笔' (Don't confuse 铅笔 pencil with 圆珠笔 ballpoint pen — they're different writing tools)

Origin & History

Compound of 铅 (lead) and 笔 (writing instrument). Named from early writing tools that used lead; modern pencils use graphite but the name persists.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal