流弹 (liú dàn) — stray bullet | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A bullet that flies off course and hits an unintended target, often used in war or conflict contexts.

noun

stray bullet

Measure word · 颗

流弹。
Tā zài zhàn dòu zhōng bú xìng bèi liú dàn jī zhòng.
He was unfortunately hit by a stray bullet during the battle.
流弹。
Jū mín duǒ bì jiē shàng de liú dàn.
Residents took cover from stray bullets in the street.
流弹，。
liú dàn Chuān guò le chuāng hu, dǎ suì le bō li.
A stray bullet went through the window and shattered the glass.

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.

A 流 (moving) 弹 (bullet) is one that has wandered off course.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

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

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

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.

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