光笔 (guāng bǐ) — (computer) light pen, electronic stylus

Definition

A light pen is a hand-held pointing device used on a computer screen to draw or select items. It is older and less common than a touchscreen or stylus tablet.

noun
(computer) light penelectronic stylus
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 光笔。
    Tā yòng guāng bǐ zài píng mù shàng xiě zì.
    He uses a light pen to write on the screen.
  • 光笔。
    Zhè zhǒng guāng bǐ kě yǐ jīng què dì huà chū xiàn tiáo.
    This kind of light pen can draw lines precisely.
  • 光笔。
    Zǎo qī de jì suàn jī yòng guāng bǐ zuò wéi shū rù shè bèi.
    Early computers used light pens as input devices.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

光guānglight
笔bǐpen

光笔 is a 笔, pen, guided by 光, light, for drawing on a screen.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 筆; 笔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
聿
聿yù筆bǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The simplified 笔 is based on the traditional form 筆, which puts 竹 (bamboo) beside 聿 (writing brush). 聿 already meant the brush and supplied the sound; 竹 was added later to show it was made of bamboo.

Open 笔 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.