琴弓 (qín gōng) — bow (for playing a stringed instrument)

Definition

noun

bow (for playing a stringed instrument)

Measure word · 把

琴弓。
Zhè bǎ qín gōng shì yòng mù tou zuò de.
This bow is made of wood.
琴弓。
Lǎo shī jiào wǒ zěn me ná qín gōng.
The teacher taught me how to hold the bow.
琴弓。
Xīn de qín gōng shēng yīn hěn hǎo tīng.
The new bow sounds very nice.

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.

琴qínstringed instrument

琴 says the 弓 is for a stringed instrument, not for archery.

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

珡珡qín

Sound part声符shēngfú

今

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

琴 pairs 珡, the part tied to its sense as a stringed instrument, with 今, which gives the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 弓 is a picture of a bow.