えんぴつ
enpitsueveryday
In hiragana, "pencil" is えんぴつ (enpitsu).
You write with it using かく (kaku): えんぴつで かく (enpitsu de kaku). Sharpening is けずる (kezuru).
Meaning: pencil (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
えんぴつ is 鉛筆 in kanji. The small っ marks a short pause before the ぴ (pi).
Which one should you use?
A wooden pencil is えんぴつ (enpitsu). A mechanical pencil is called シャープペンシル (shāpupenshiru), usually shortened to シャーペン (shāpen).
Did you know?
- Japanese students are often asked to use a pencil for exams like the national entrance tests, since the answer sheets are read by machines.
Examples in context
- えんぴつで なまえを かきました。Enpitsu de namae o kakimashita.I wrote my name with a pencil.
- えんぴつを けずってください。Enpitsu o kezutte kudasai.Please sharpen the pencil.
- えんぴつを かしてください。Enpitsu o kashite kudasai.Please lend me a pencil.
Example conversation
Hayato asks his desk mate Nozomi for help before a test.
- Hayatoごめん、えんぴつを わすれた。Gomen, enpitsu o wasureta.Sorry, I forgot my pencil.
- Nozomiはい、これ つかって。Hai, kore tsukatte.Here, use this.
- Hayatoありがとう、たすかる。Arigatō, tasukaru.Thanks, you saved me.
