弓 (gōng) · bow (weapon for shooting arrows)

Measure Word

一把弓 bǎ

Meanings

1 bow (weapon for shooting arrows)
2 anything bow-shaped; an arc

Characters

弓

gōng

bow (weapon); curved

Examples

HSK 7-9

他拉开了弓，瞄准了目标。

Tā lākāi le gōng, miáozhǔn le mùbiāo.

He drew the bow and aimed at the target.

HSK 7-9

古代战士都要学习弓箭。

Gǔdài zhànshì dōu yào xuéxí gōngjiàn.

Ancient warriors all had to learn archery.

Tips

culture

弓 is also a radical (弓字旁) in many characters related to bending, tension, or elasticity: 张 (to stretch), 弦 (string), 强 (strong), 弹 (to bounce/bullet). Recognizing it helps decode dozens of characters.

history

The Chinese composite bow was a feared weapon for millennia. Mounted archery from horseback was a core military skill, and the phrase 弓马娴熟 (skilled with bow and horse) meant an accomplished warrior.

Components

pictograph

弓 gōng

bow (weapon)

A direct picture of an unstrung archery bow seen from the side, with the curved limbs and a hint of the grip. Oracle-bone forms show the bowstring; later script dropped it for a cleaner three-stroke silhouette. 弓 is itself the Kangxi radical for bow-related characters (引, 张, 弱, 强).

Radical

Bow Kangxi #57

Pictograph of an unstrung wooden bow. As a radical it marks characters connected to bending, tension, and elasticity: 张 (stretch), 弦 (bowstring), 强 (strong), 弹 (bounce/bullet), 弟 (younger brother, originally cord wound on a stake). A productive and visually clear group.