冷箭 (lěng jiàn) — arrow shot from hiding; covert attack; a hidden blow (figurative)

Definition

A 冷箭 is literally an arrow shot from hiding, but it almost always means a sneaky, unprovoked attack (often verbal, like a backhanded remark). It pairs with the verb 放 (放冷箭) — without 放, it sounds incomplete.

noun
arrow shot from hidingcovert attacka hidden blow (figurative)
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 冷箭，。
    Tā zài bèi hòu fàng le lěng jiàn, ràng rén fáng bú shèng fáng.
    He launched a covert attack from behind, leaving people unable to defend against it.
  • 冷箭。
    Zhè chǎng zhèng zhì dòu zhēng chōng mǎn le lěng jiàn hé yīn móu.
    This political struggle is full of hidden attacks and conspiracies.
  • 冷箭。
    Tā méi xiǎng dào péng you huì duì tā fàng lěng jiàn.
    He didn't expect his friend to stab him in the back.

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.

冷lěngcold
箭jiànarrow

“冷” (cold) describes “箭” (arrow), hence a hidden shot or covert blow.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
冫Written in full as仌bīngice
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng冷lěng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

Open 冷 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
前
前qián箭jiàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 竹 part points to bamboo, the material of arrows; the 前 part gives the sound.

Open 箭 →

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