Korean Dictionary
How to say "Pencil" in Korean
“Pencil” in Korean is 연필 (pronounced "Yeonpil").
연필
Yeonpil
Usage & Context
Pencils (연필) are a staple in Korean elementary school classrooms. Young students are required to write with pencils before transitioning to pens, developing neat handwriting skills. For standardized tests, including the 수능, students use HB pencils to fill in answer sheets that are graded by optical readers.
Example Sentence
연필로 답을 쓰세요.
Please write your answer with a pencil.
How to use 연필 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Pencil” is 연필, romanized as Yeonpil.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 연필.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce 'Yeon' like 'yawn' but shorter and quicker. 'Pil' is pronounced like 'peel'. The 'n' and 'p' sounds flow together.
More Example Sentences
An adult recalling their childhood school days.
어릴 때는 연필로만 글씨를 썼어요.
When I was young, I only wrote with a pencil.
A student asking a classmate for help.
연필심이 부러졌어요. 연필깎이 좀 빌려줄래요?
My pencil lead broke. Can I borrow your pencil sharpener?
A teacher reminding students about test preparations.
시험 볼 때 연필과 지우개는 필수품이에요.
Pencils and erasers are essential items when taking a test.
Cultural Context
연필 (Yeonpil) holds a significant place in Korean education, especially for young students. Elementary school children are typically required to use pencils to develop neat and correct handwriting before moving on to pens. For high-stakes national exams like the Suneung (College Scholastic Ability Test), students specifically use HB pencils to fill in multiple-choice answer sheets, which are then read by optical scanners.
Editorial note
We review entries like 연필 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
연필로 쓰다
To write with a pencil
연필심
Pencil lead
색연필
Colored pencil
Related Expressions
샤프
Syapeu
Mechanical pencil (loanword from 'sharp pencil')
지우개
Jiugae
Eraser
연필깎이
Yeonpilkkakki
Pencil sharpener
펜
Pen
Pen
More Education Words
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