jyun4 bat1 sam1鉛筆芯铅笔芯

Jyutpingjyun4 bat1 sam1

Yaleyùhn bāt sām

Definition

Pencil lead; the graphite core of a pencil.

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How it's used

Refers specifically to the thin graphite sticks used in mechanical pencils. While the English term uses lead, the Cantonese term correctly identifies the core of the pencil. It is almost exclusively used in the context of mechanical pencils rather than traditional wooden ones.

Measure word

hap6盒haph

Examples

zi1支jyun4鉛bat1筆sam1芯tyun5斷zo2咗，jau5有mou5冇do1多zi1支aa4呀？

The pencil lead broke, do you have another one?

ngo5我jiu3要heoi3去maai5買hap6盒san1新ge3嘅jyun4鉛bat1筆sam1芯。

I need to go buy a new box of pencil lead.

Common phrases

wun6換jyun4鉛bat1筆sam1芯

to change the pencil lead

tyun5斷jyun4鉛bat1筆sam1芯

broken pencil lead

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use the word 鉛 for lead in this context, but 鉛筆芯 is the standard compound for the refillable lead itself. Do not confuse this with 鉛筆 which refers to the entire pencil.