鸣枪

鳴槍

míngqiāng

verb #22,566

Meanings

1 to fire a gun (as a signal or warning)
2 to discharge a firearm

Characters

to sound; to cry out (of birds/instruments)

gun; rifle; firearm

Examples

裁判鸣枪，比赛正式开始。

Cáipàn míngqiāng, bǐsài zhèngshì kāishǐ.

The referee fired the starting gun and the race officially began.

警察向空中鸣枪警告。

Jǐngchá xiàng kōngzhōng míngqiāng jǐnggào.

The police fired warning shots into the air.

鸣枪示警是最后手段。

Míngqiāng shì jǐng shì zuìhòu shǒuduàn.

Firing warning shots is a last resort.

Tips

usage

鸣枪 implies firing a gun as a signal or for effect (a warning shot or starter's pistol), not necessarily in combat. The character 鸣 means to make a sound/cry out, so 鸣枪 literally means 'to make the gun sound.'

Stroke Order

鸣 míng

枪 qiāng