弯弓 (wān gōng) — to bend/draw a bow; to arch (like a bow) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary / set-phrase verb meaning 'to bend or draw a bow' — also used figuratively to describe something arching like a bow (e.g. a hunched back). Far more formal than the plain verb 弯 on its own.

verb

to bend/draw a bowto arch (like a bow)

Examples

弯弓，。
Tā yòng lì wān gōng, jiàn shè dé hěn yuǎn.
He drew the bow with force, and the arrow flew very far.
。
Liè rén zài sēn lín lǐ wān le yí cì gōng.
The hunter bent the bow once in the forest.
弯弓。
Tā de bèi wān dé xiàng yì zhāng wān gōng.
Her back arched like a bow.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

弯 bend directed at 弓 bow gives the idea of drawing a bow.

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 彎; 弯 is its simplified writing.

弓䜌彎

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

䜌

䜌䜌彎wān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彎 pairs 弓 (bow) with 䜌 as a sound part; the simplified 弯 is a later shorthand.

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.

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