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.
