枪法 (qiāng fǎ) — marksmanship, shooting skill; (archaic) spearmanship, the art of using a spear

Definition

Literally "gun method": the skill or technique of using a gun (marksmanship). Historically also referred to spear technique, but in modern Chinese the shooting sense dominates.

noun
marksmanshipshooting skill(archaic) spearmanshipthe art of using a spear

Examples

  • 枪法。
    Tā de qiāng fǎ fēi cháng zhǔn.
    His marksmanship is very accurate.
  • ,枪法。
    Zài gǔ dài, qiāng fǎ yě shì yì mén zhòng yào de wǔ yì.
    In ancient times, spearmanship was also an important martial art.
  • 枪法,。
    Tā měi tiān liàn xí qiāng fǎ, xī wàng néng cān jiā bǐ sài.
    He practices marksmanship every day, hoping to participate in competitions.

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.

法fǎmethod

枪 'gun' and 法 'method' form the method of using a gun.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 槍; 枪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
倉
倉cāng槍qiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 槍 pairs 木 (wood) with 倉 as a sound part; the simplified 枪 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical component.

Open 枪 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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