万年筆
Meaning in Englishfountain pen
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
万年筆 means fountain pen. It denotes a writing instrument that uses liquid ink stored in a reservoir and delivered to a nib, typically refillable with cartridges or converters for repeated use and smooth performance.
Main meanings
- The primary meaning denotes a fountain pen used for everyday writing, calligraphy, and collecting.
- In hobby or marketing contexts it often signals quality, craftsmanship, or vintage appeal beyond a generic pen.
- It contrasts with ballpoint and gel pens, whose ink delivery and mechanism differ.
How to use it
In Japanese, 万年筆 is used to denote a fountain pen in both formal and informal contexts, including discussions of ink, nibs, and maintenance; it appears in textbooks, catalogs, and hobby writing as a standard term for this instrument.
Variants and close terms
- 毛筆 (mouhitsu) — brush pen, related term though not the same instrument
- 筆記具 (hikkigu) — writing instrument, broader category
- ボールペン (bo-ru pen) — ballpoint pen, commonly contrasted as a different type
Composition
- 万 — ten thousand; a symbol of abundance or durability when used in compounds
- 年 — year; here part of a fixed phrase rather than a literal calendar reference
- 筆 — pen or brush; the tool itself
Etymology
etimologia (mannenhitsu) is an on'yomi compound. The readings are mannenhitsu (mannenhitsu) with 万年 pronounced mann nen and 筆 pronounced hitsu. The characters 万年 and 筆 together form the term for a long‑lasting writing tool in contemporary Japanese.
Origin
Introduced to Japan in the late 19th century during the Meiji era with Western writing tools; the term 万年筆 emerged to label a durable, refillable pen using liquid ink.
Word class
Noun (名詞)