荷枪实弹 (hè qiāng shí dàn) — fully armed and ready for action (literally or figuratively)

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning 'armed to the teeth and combat-ready', literally 'bearing a gun and loaded with live rounds'. The figure-of-speech examples show it can also mean 'fully prepared, in a state of high alert'.

idiom
fully armed and ready for action (literally or figuratively)

Examples

  • 荷枪实弹，。
    Jǐng chá men hè qiāng shí dàn zài jiē shàng xún luó, yǐ fáng fā shēng yì wài.
    The police were fully armed and patrolling the streets to prevent accidents.
  • ，荷枪实弹，。
    Bǐ sài qián, xuǎn shǒu men dōu hè qiāng shí dàn, zhǔn bèi yíng jiē tiǎo zhàn.
    Before the competition, the contestants were all fully prepared and ready to face the challenge.
  • ，荷枪实弹，。
    Biān jìng shàng, shì bīng men hè qiāng shí dàn, shí kè jǐng tì zhe dí rén de dòng xiàng.
    At the border, the soldiers were fully armed, constantly alert to the enemy's movements.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

荷枪carry guns
荷hécarry枪qiānggun
动宾Verb + object
实弹load bullets
实shíload弹tánbullet
动宾Verb + object

荷枪 and 实弹 describe carrying guns and loading bullets, giving the sense of being fully armed.

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
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
何
何hé荷hé
Same sound today

荷 has 艸, the grass/plant form, to show a plant, and 何 to give the sound.

Open 荷 →

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 實; 实 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánroof
  • 周周zhōucarved jade
  • 貝貝bèishellfish; cowrie

The traditional form 實 has 宀 'roof' above 周 'carved jade' and 貝 'cowrie'; the simplified 实 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 实 →

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
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.

Open 弹 →

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