pen or pencil; hard-tipped writing implement
Refers to writing instruments with a hard tip, such as pens, pencils, and ballpoints, as opposed to brushes (毛筆). Often used in educational or calligraphy contexts.
In elementary school, there are penmanship classes using pencils or pens.
Please submit your work in both hard-tipped pen and brush.
Compound of 硬 (hard) and 筆 (writing brush/implement), literally 'hard brush/pen'. The term arose to distinguish modern hard-tipped writing tools from traditional soft brushes.