枪眼 (qiāng yǎn) — embrasure; loophole (in a fortification or wall); bullet hole (in a surface)

Definition

noun
embrasureloophole (in a fortification or wall)bullet hole (in a surface)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 枪眼，。
    Chéng qiáng shàng yǒu xǔ duō qiāng yǎn, yòng lái shè jī dí rén.
    There are many embrasures on the city wall for shooting at enemies.
  • 枪眼。
    Jǐng chá zài qiáng shàng fā xiàn le yí gè qiāng yǎn.
    The police found a bullet hole in the wall.
  • 枪眼。
    Zhè zuò diāo bǎo de qiāng yǎn shè jì dé hěn qiǎo miào.
    The loopholes of this pillbox are cleverly designed.

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.

枪qiānggun
眼yǎnhole

It means an opening or hole for a gun, or a hole made by a bullet, from 枪 'gun' and 眼 'hole'.

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
木木mù
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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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