铅笔 (qiān bǐ) literally means 'lead brush' — 铅 (qiān) refers to lead or, historically, the graphite core (though modern pencil 'lead' is actually graphite and clay), and 笔 (bǐ) means 'writing brush' or more broadly 'pen/pencil'. Despite the character for 'lead', no actual lead is used today; the term persists due to historical naming. It’s a common, everyday noun referring to a slender writing or drawing instrument with a graphite core encased in wood, plastic, or metal.

铅笔 is used across educational, artistic, and office contexts — students use it for drafting and exams (especially where erasability matters), artists for sketching, and professionals for quick notes. Unlike pens, pencils are valued for their erasability and lack of ink smudging. It’s neutral in register — appropriate in both casual speech and formal settings — and functions as a countable noun, often appearing with measure words like 支 (zhī) or 根 (gēn).