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JetPens Glossary

April 9, 2019 - Posted by Elaine to Guides, Fun Facts, Beginners' Guides, Stationery 101

The vast world of stationery is fascinating to explore. As you discover new pens and paper, you may encounter some unusual words and phrases. Is there Japanese jargon on your gel pen? Are you perplexed by product names? Our JetPens Glossary can help define those mystery terms!

Table of Contents

Japanese Terms

Term	Kanji	Furigana	Definition
Fude	筆	ふで	"Fude" (pronounced foo-day) means "brush." This term shows up in the names of many brush pen products, like the Tombow Fudenosuke.
Washi	和紙	わし	A type of Japanese paper that was historically handmade using plant fibers from mulberry, bamboo, or rice. Washi tapes are made by adding adhesive backing to strips of colorful washi paper.
Techō	手帳	てちょう	Based on the words for "hand" and "book," "techō" means "pocket notebook" or "planner." The versatile Hobonichi Techo can be used as a planner, journal, and more.
Iro	色	いろ	"Iro" means color, so it shows up in product names like the luxurious Pilot Iroshizuku Inks. The word "sai" also means color.
Gansai	顔彩	がんさい	Traditional Japanese watercolors. Gansai watercolors are boldly pigmented and very opaque on paper.
Etegami	絵手紙	えてがみ	Based on the words for "picture" and "message," etegami is a Japanese folk art involving simple drawings and a brief message. The philosophy of etegami is to be spontaneously thoughtful. It is generally done on postcards, which are easily mailed off to friends.
Maki-e	蒔絵	まきえ	Maki-e, which means "sprinkled picture," is a Japanese art form that involves carefully sprinkling a lacquered surface with powder made from gold, silver, copper, and other precious metals. The metallic powder is also applied using brushes or sponges to create beautiful motifs.
Raden	螺鈿	らでん	Raden is a technique in which lacquered wares are inlaid with small fragments of ivory or shell, such as mother-of-pearl or abalone.
Shitajiki	下敷き	したじき	A flat, lightweight plastic board that is placed underneath a sheet of paper. It provides a smooth writing surface and prevents heavy-handed writers from denting or marking the pages underneath. It is also known as a "pencil board" or "writing board."
Shikkari	確り	しっかり	A word that means "tightly" or "securely." The Kokuyo Campus Shikkari paper has more texture, which allows your pen or pencil to grip the paper securely.
Sharp		シャープ	An English word that has taken on separate meaning in the Japanese stationery world. Instead of its literal meaning, "sharp" is another word for a mechanical pencil -- a pencil that is always sharp.
Sign Pen		サインペン	Another English-to-Japanese term, "sign pen" usually refers to felt-tipped writing markers. However, the term can be used for any pen that is intended for writing signatures.
Knock		ノック	The motion of pressing down on a button to extend the pen tip or pencil lead. The push button itself is often called a "knock button".
Kuru Toga	尖る	くるくるとがる	The Uni Kuru Toga Auto Lead Rotation Mechanical Pencil's name comes from "kurukuru", a mimetic word for the sound of something rotating or spinning, and "togaru," a verb meaning "to taper."
Kira		キラ	"Kirakira" is a mimetic word for something twinkling or sparkling. Some of our metallic and glitter pens have "kira" in their name, like the Sakura Ballsign Kirara.
Fureru	振れる	ふれる	This means to shake. The Pilot Fure Fure Pencils are appropriately named because you extend lead by shaking the pencil back and forth.
Sarasara		さらさら	"Sarasara" is a mimetic word that describes silky-smooth items, such as the smooth-writing Zebra Sarasa Gel Pens.
Sharbo		シャーボ	The customizable Zebra Sharbo Multi Pen gets its name from "Sharp" + ballpoint, due to its ability to hold both ink and pencil refill components.
Sumi Ink	墨	すみ	Based on the words for "ink" and "water", sumi ink was traditionally made by grinding ink sticks on a palette and then gradually adding water. Today, pre-mixed sumi ink is sold in bottles for convenience. Most sumi inks are water resistant when dry.
Mensō	面相	めんそう	"Mensō" means "face." A menso brush is a fine-point brush used for intricate detail work like small facial features.
Manga	漫画	まんが	The art of Japanese comics. Manga works cover many genres (including action, mystery, and romance) and are read by people of all age groups.
Mangaka	漫画家	まんがか	A manga artist.
Diary		ダイアリー	"Diary" is commonly used instead of planner in Japanese. This is true in British English as well.
Free		フリー	You'll often see Japanese planners labelled as "free". This simply means that the planner is undated.
Flake		フレーク	"Flake" stickers are die-cut stickers
Gokuboso	極細	ごくぼそ	You'll often see these kanji characters on brush and fountain pens. "極細" means superfine or extra fine.
Hosoji	細字	ほそじ	"細字" means small type or handwriting. You'll find it on fine brush pens or fountain pen nibs.
Chūji	中字	ちゅうじ	"中字" refers to medium tips or nibs.
Futoji	太字	ふとじ	"太字" means boldface or bold-type. This can be found on broad tips or nibs.

General Pen Terms

Term	Definition
Barrel	The main body of the pen.
Tip	The part of the pen that dispenses ink. In some pens, the tip is also called the nib.
Grip	The section of the pen that you hold while writing. Some pens have rubber or ergonomic grips for added comfort.
Cap	The removable piece that covers the pen tip.
Post	To place the pen cap on the back end of the barrel.
Ballpoint Pen	Ballpoint pens contain viscous oil-based inks. Because ballpoint ink is thicker, it dries quickly and is compatible with almost all types of paper.
Rollerball Pen	Rollerball pens contain water-based ink. They offer a smoother writing experience, but liquid inks tend to have longer drying times.
Gel Pen	Gel pens contain ink made up of pigments mixed in water-based gel. Since this mixture is thinner than ballpoint ink but thicker than rollerball ink, gel ink strikes a balance between being quick-drying and smooth-flowing.
Fountain Pen	Fountain pens hold ink in a reservoir and dispense it continuously through a nib. See our Fountain Pen Terms section for more information.
Multi Pen	Multi Pens contain two or more ink colors. Some may also include a pencil component. Pre-installed and customizable options are available.
Brush Pen	Brush pens have tapered and springy tips that mimic real paintbrushes.
Calligraphy Pen	Calligraphy pens have specialty tips, such as Italic nibs, which produce the line variation required for beautiful calligraphic works.
Dip Pen	Dip pens do not contain an ink reservoir. To use them, first dip the pen tip into bottled dip pen ink. As you write, the ink will run off the tip onto paper. Simply re-dip periodically to keep writing. "Dip Pen" can also refer to the combination of a nib and nib holder.
Conical Tip	Conical tips are more durable than needle-point tips and can withstand damage from accidental drops. The popular Uni-ball Signo is an example of a conical-tip pen.
Needle-Point Tip	Needle-point tips are more precise, but also more delicate. Their accuracy makes them ideal for use with rulers or in technical drawings, since the slim tip does not obscure the paper beneath. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C is one of our classic needle-point pens.
Chisel Tip	A marker tip that produces thick horizontal lines and thin vertical lines. Most highlighters have chisel tips to easily cover entire lines of text.
Bullet Tip	A marker tip that is rounded, which produces lines of uniform width. Many paint markers have broad bullet tips.
Tip Size vs Line Width	Tip size and line width are not always equivalent. Tip size is the measurement of the physical tip diameter. Line width is the measurement of the mark drawn on paper and can vary depending on writing pressure and paper absorbency. A pen labeled with a 0.4 mm tip might draw a line that is actually 0.3 mm wide.

Pencil Terms

Term	Definition
Drafting/Mechanical Pencil Anatomy	To see a detailed diagram of the various parts of a drafting or mechanical pencil, go here.
Shaker Pencil	A mechanical pencil that allows the user to extend lead by simply shaking the barrel back and forth.
Lead Holder	Similar to a regular mechanical pencil, but most have a clutch mechanism and can hold wider leads from 2.0 mm to 6 mm.
Clutch	A spring mechanism that holds pencil lead in place.
Chuck	A clamp mechanism that opens to extend lead and closes to keep the lead in place.
Ferrule	A metal cylinder used to attach an eraser to the end of a wooden pencil.
Lead Grade	An indicator of how hard and dark the lead core is. Read our Pencil Hardness Grade article for more information.
Knurling	Textured crosshatching on the grip section of a drafting or mechanical pencil. It prevents the pencil from slipping as you write or sketch. Rotring Drafting Pencils all have knurled grips.
Pointer	Another term for sharpener, usually for wider leads.

Fountain Pen Terms

Term	Definition
Fountain Pen Anatomy	To learn about the various parts of a fountain pen and how they work, go here.
Cartridge	A small, tube-shaped container that is pre-filled with ink. Cartridges are convenient to use, but their color selection is limited.
Converter	A tool that acts as a refillable reservoir, giving access to the wide spectrum of bottled ink colors.
Piston Filling Pen	A fountain pen that uses a built-in piston mechanism to draw in ink.
Vacuum Filling Pen	A fountain pen with a built-in vacuum mechanism that uses a plunger and air pressure to draw in ink.
Cartridge/Converter Pen	A fountain pen that can be filled with either a cartridge or a converter.
Eyedropper	A fountain pen that has been modified to hold ink directly in the barrel, instead of inside a cartridge or converter. You can watch our Eyedropper Conversion Tutorial for more information.
Demonstrator	A fountain pen with a clear barrel, which allows you to view the pen's inner mechanism and ink contents.
Japanese vs European Nib Sizing	Japanese nib sizes tend to run smaller than European nib sizes. For example, a Japanese Medium Nib is more similar to a European Fine. There is no European equivalent of a Japanese Extra Fine Nib. For more information, read our Guide to Fountain Pen Nibs.
Italic Nib	A specialty nib that has a wide, flat tip. This style of nib produces thin horizontal lines and thick vertical lines. This type of line variation is suited for Italic handwriting and various calligraphic styles.
Stub Nib	A specialty nib that is similar to an Italic nib, but with rounded edges. It also produces line variation, but the rounded edges result in a smoother writing experience. Italic and stub nib variations are sometimes called "cursive italic" nibs.
Flex Nib	A specialty nib whose flexible tines separate with pressure, allowing the writer to achieve thick swells and thin lines. The Pilot Falcon is one example of a popular flex nib pen.
Fude Nib	A specialty nib that is bent slightly upwards, allowing the writer to achieve the tapering strokes of a brush pen. The Sailor DE Fountain Pen has a fude nib.
Iridium	A very hard and durable metal that prevents the tip of your pen nib from wearing down over time. Almost all modern fountain pens are tipped with iridium or an iridium alloy.
Railroading	A problem that occurs when ink does not flow evenly through the two tines of the nib, resulting in lines being darker at the edges than in the center.
Skipping	A problem caused by dry ink or a misaligned nib. Ink flow starts and stops sporadically, resulting in a dashed appearance instead of a smooth, consistent line. To fix poor ink flow, refer to our Fountain Pen Nib Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks article.
Nib Creep	This occurs when ink is visible on the top of a pen nib. Usually harmless, it is the result of ink coming up through the nib slit or breather hole.

Ink Terms

Term	Definition
Refills	Any ink-filled container inside the body of a pen. Most pens come with an included refill. Replacement refills are available for some pen models, but are unavailable for disposable pens.
Shading	An effect in which ink appears darker in some areas and lighter in others. As you write, ink tends to pool at the beginning and end of letters, as well as loops where two lines intersect. The effect is an unique variation of color intensity from letter to letter. Noodler's Apache Sunset Ink is known for its excellent shading.
Sheen	An effect in which unusual highlight colors appear once an ink is dry. For example, Sailor Yama-dori is a dark teal ink, but it may exhibit a rusty red sheen. Sometimes, sheen is only visible when viewing the ink from an angle, or when writing with a particularly broad nib on less absorbent paper.
Wet Ink vs Dry Ink	Different inks have varying flow properties. Inks that flow particularly well and lay down smooth, juicy lines are called wet inks. Inks with a more conservative, light flow are called dry inks. Wet inks can fix skipping in a poorly flowing pen, whereas left-handers often prefer dry inks.
Standard International	A sizing convention for fountain pen ink cartridges. Pens that are compatible with International Short or International Long cartridges can be refilled with cartridges from other brands.
Proprietary	Only compatible with products of the same brand. Some fountain pens only use proprietary cartridges, and most gel pens are only compatible with proprietary refills.
Pressurized	While normal inks are dispensed by gravity, pressurized inks are dispensed by a mechanism that pushes compressed air into the refill. These inks will flow no matter which direction the pen is facing. Read our Pressurized Space Pens article to see how they work.
Bulletproof	A specification used by Noodler's brand inks to indicate resistance to water, UV light, and fading.
Archival	Archival inks are designed to stand the test of time. Though there is no industry standard for an archival quality ink, most are able to withstand fading and discoloration.
Permanent	The definition of permanence varies widely by manufacturer. In some products it only denotes waterproofness, while in others it means archival quality. For those seeking a specific property, such as waterproofness, we recommend searching for inks explicitly labeled with that characteristic.
Lightfast	Resistant to fading or discoloration when exposed to light over time.
Acid-Free Ink	Acidic inks can corrode fountain pen nibs and inner mechanisms over time. If using an acidic ink, such as an iron gall, we recommend flushing the pen out frequently.
Waterproof vs Water-Resistant	Waterproof inks are unaffected by water. Water-resistant inks may be blurred slightly with water, but your words will remain legible. Read our Waterproof Fountain Pen Inks article for more information.
Copic-proof	Able to withstand smearing when colored over with Copic Alcohol Markers. Copic-proof inks can also withstand some solvents, such as those used in identity theft.
Dye-Based Ink	Inks containing chemical dyes dissolved in water. Because dyes are water soluble, these inks are not waterproof. Many fountain pen inks, such as the Pilot Iroshizuku line, are dye-based.
Pigment-Based Ink	Inks containing insoluble particles, such as carbon or mica, suspended in liquid. These particles become embedded in the paper as the ink dries, and as a result, most pigment-based inks are highly waterproof and lightfast. They are also called carbon inks or nano inks.
Iron Gall Inks	Inks that combine iron sulfate with tannic acid from natural sources like oak galls. These inks are waterproof, but their acidity can corrode pens and destroy paper over time.
India Ink	Ink made with ground soot/carbon and a binder, such as shellac. The resulting ink is almost always glossy, waterproof, and solvent-proof. India ink is not suitable for fountain pens.
Dip Pen Ink	Slightly viscous inks to be used with dip pens and nibs. Due to their higher viscosity, dip pen inks are not suitable for use inside fountain pens.
Encre	The French word for ink. The term appears on many J. Herbin Inks, which are produced in France.
Tinte	The German word for ink. The term "tintenpatronen" means "ink cartridge."
Edelstein	The German word for gemstone. The luxurious Pelikan Edelstein Inks are inspired by precious stones like sapphire, jade, and ruby.
Konigsblau	A royal blue color. In German, it literally translates to "King's Blue."

Paper Terms

Term	Definition
Weight	Paper weight is expressed as grammage (Grams per square meter, or GSM) or pounds (in the US).
GSM	Grams per square meter (GSM) is the metric measurement of paper weight. With metric paper weights, higher numbers generally indicate thicker and more durable papers.
Pounds	Measurement of paper weight in the US. Pounds is more difficult to define, and may be inconsistent across brands. Most copy paper is about 20-25 pounds.
Paper Sizes	For a thorough explanation of paper sizes, check out our Paper Sizes Explained article.
Vellum	Translucent paper used for tracing and drafting. Though traditionally made from animal hide, modern-day vellum is often made with coated cotton.
Showthrough	When writing can be seen on the reverse side of the paper. Thinner papers tend to have higher showthrough. Showthrough is also known as "ghosting" or "shadowing."
Bleedthrough	When ink soaks through the paper, sometimes even onto the next page. Broad-tipped pens and alcohol-based pens are more prone to bleeding.
Feathering	When ink spreads into the fibers of a more absorbent paper due to capillary action. Lines appear veiny and fuzzy instead of sharp and crisp. Feathering is also called "spidering."
Feedback	The tactile feel of the pen tip on paper. Textured papers like sketchbook paper have more feedback, while smooth papers like Rhodia or Maruman have less feedback. Also referred to as "tooth."
Sizing	A substance applied to the top of paper to make it more water-resistant. This film acts as a protective layer to preventing blurring and feathering.
Acid-Free Paper	Papers that have a neutral or basic pH. Acid-free papers are more resistant to deterioration over time. On the other hand, paper that is not acid-free will turn yellow and brittle, potentially damaging any art or writing on its surface.
Cold Press	A finish of art paper. Cold pressed papers are made by pressing the paper with cold rollers, which creates a moderately rough surface. It is fairly absorbent and ideal for watercolors.
Hot Press	Hot pressed papers are pressed through a hot roller, creating a smooth surface. They are less absorbent than cold pressed papers, but colors used on them tend to be brighter as the pigments remain on the surface of the paper.
Foolscap Paper	Foolscap paper, also known as fools paper, was a British paper exported to Japan during the Meiji era. It was named after its watermark of a cap and bells, a hat worn by court jesters. Today, foolscap is used to refer to premium Japanese paper that resists feathering and bleedthrough. Some notebooks that use foolscap paper include Kunisawa Find Note Soft Notebooks and Tsubame Fools Notebooks.

Art Terms

Term	Definition
Transparent vs Opaque	Transparent watercolors do not use additives (such as chalk or white) and produce sheer colors that allow previous layers of paint to show through. Opaque colors use white to "brighten" the colors, which also makes the paints less translucent.
Staining	When paint pigments are finely ground, they adhere to paper and cannot be removed with lifting or scrubbing. These are known as staining paints.
Non-Repro Blue	A specific shade of light blue that is not visible in photocopies and can be easily removed when using editing software like Photoshop. Artists can freely sketch ideas in blue lead without having to erase those lines afterwards.
Round	A common paintbrush shape. Round brushes are tapered to a point, which makes them one of the most versatile shapes.
Kolinsky Sable	A type of Siberian weasel whose hairs are prized for their shape and ability to hold water. Brushes made with kolinsky hair are known for their superior resilience.
Separation	When a paint or dye separates into its component colors, usually by exposure to water.
Non-toxic	Materials that are certified non-toxic by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) have passed toxicological tests and are safe for adults and children. ACMI certified non-toxic materials have an "AP" seal.
Tusche	The German word for inks, such as india inks, or watercolor paints.