pencil
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pencil
A writing and drawing tool consisting of a lead, usually made of graphite, inside a wooden casing.
Für die Prüfung darf man nur einen Bleistift und einen Radiergummi benutzen.
For the exam, you may only use a pencil and an eraser.
'Bleistift' (pencil) is made up of 'Blei' (lead) and 'Stift' (pen / pencil). Although a pencil today consists of graphite and clay, the name comes from a time when people actually wrote with a lead stylus.
Früher dachte ich, in einem Bleistift wäre wirklich Blei.
I used to think there was really lead in a pencil.
A very typical verb in connection with 'Bleistift' (pencil) is 'spitzen' (to sharpen). When a pencil no longer writes well, you have to sharpen it. You also write or draw 'mit dem Bleistift' (with the pencil).
Kannst du mir kurz deinen Spitzer leihen? Ich muss meinen Bleistift spitzen.
Can you lend me your sharpener for a moment? I need to sharpen my pencil.
To express that you are using a pencil as a tool, you use the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative. So you say 'mit einem Bleistift' (with a pencil).
Die Skizze wurde nur mit einem Bleistift gezeichnet.
The sketch was drawn only with a pencil.
pen / pin / apprentice
'der Stift' and 'der Bleistift' both belong to writing or drawing tools. 'Stift' is the general term and can mean many types, for example a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, or pencil. 'Bleistift' is more specific: it writes with a lead, usually made of graphite, and the writing can often be erased again. Learners may confuse the words because a pencil is also a kind of 'Stift'. If the type does not matter, you say 'Stift'. If you mean exactly this writing tool with a lead, you say 'Bleistift'.
Für die Skizze nimmt Lena lieber einen Bleistift, weil sie noch radieren möchte.
For the sketch, Lena prefers to use a pencil because she still wants to erase things.
Hast du einen Stift für mich, damit ich die Adresse notieren kann?
Do you have a pen for me so I can write down the address?