弹弓 (dàn gōng) — slingshot (a Y-shaped device with an elastic ba…

Definition

noun

slingshot (a Y-shaped device with an elastic band for shooting small projectiles)

Measure word · 把

弹弓。
Tā xiǎo shí hou xǐ huan wán dàn gōng.
He liked to play with a slingshot when he was a child.
弹弓。
Tā yòng dàn gōng dǎ le yì zhī niǎo.
He shot a bird with a slingshot.
弹弓。
Tā zuò le yí gè dàn gōng lái dǎ niǎo.
He made a slingshot to shoot birds.

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.

弹tánprojectile

A 弓 that shoots 弹, a bow-like device for launching small projectiles.

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

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

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a 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.

Appears in