Definition
矢 (shǐ) is a bound morpheme (b.f.) that appears in literary and formal Chinese, not as a standalone modern word. Its most common sense is 'arrow', used in historical or technical terms (e.g. 矢量 'vector'). It also appears in set phrases meaning 'to vow' or 'to swear' (e.g. 矢口否认 'flatly deny', 矢志不渝 'unswerving'). In archaic and medical texts, it can mean 'excrement', though this sense is very rare. Learners encounter 矢 mainly in idioms and Classical Chinese contexts.
b.f.
arrow (bound form; literary)to vowto swear (bound form, in idioms like 矢口否认, 矢志不渝)
Examples
- 矢。gǔdài zhànchǎng shàng shǐ rú yǔ xià.On the ancient battlefield, arrows fell like rain.
- 。Tā shǐ kǒu fǒurèn le zhè jiàn shì.He flatly denied this matter.
- 。Tā shǐ zhì bù yú de zhuīqiú mèngxiǎng.He pursues his dreams unswervingly.
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