马克笔
mǎkèbǐ
In Chinese, the word for marker is 马克笔 (mǎkèbǐ).
A marker is an object used to mark location.
Meaning: object used to mark location (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 马克笔 is a phonetic transliteration where mǎkè represents the sound of the English word 'marker' and bǐ means 'pen'.
Which one should you use?
马克笔 is a phonetic loanword, whereas 记号笔 is a semantic description that literally means 'sign-making pen'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Traditional Chinese, marker is written as 記號筆.
How do you pronounce it?
mǎkèbǐ
Did you know?
- While 马克笔 is a phonetic loan, the word 笔 originally referred to a brush used for calligraphy rather than a pen with ink.
- The phonetic part 马克 is the same set of characters used to translate the name 'Mark' into Chinese.
- The character 笔 is written with a radical that originally depicted a bamboo stick and hair, reflecting the physical construction of early writing tools.
Examples in context
- 请使用标记在地图上指示要去的位置。Please use a marker on the map to indicate the desired location.
- 我需要一支记号笔来勾画重要的部分。I need a marker to highlight the important parts.
- 我需要一支马克笔。Wǒ xūyào yì zhī mǎkěbǐ.I need a marker.
- 请把那支马克笔给我。Qǐng bǎ nà zhī mǎkěbǐ gěi wǒ.Please give me that marker.
- 这支马克笔的颜色很亮。Zhè zhī mǎkěbǐ de yánsè hěn liàng.The color of this marker is very bright.
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are preparing for a presentation in a classroom.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你有马克笔吗？Jùnjié, nǐ yǒu mǎkèbǐ ma?Junjie, do you have a marker?
- 俊杰 Junjie有，在我的包里。Yǒu, zài wǒ de bāo lǐ.Yes, it's in my bag.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，我需要用它在白板上写字。Tài hǎo le, wǒ xūyào yòng tā zài báibǎn shàng xiězì.Great, I need to use it to write on the whiteboard.
- 俊杰 Junjie给你，拿去用吧。Gěi nǐ, ná qù yòng ba.Here you go, take it.
