弓

See also: 弖 and 弔

弓 U+5F13, 弓 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5F13 ← 弒 [U+5F12] CJK Unified Ideographs 弔 → [U+5F14]

⼸ U+2F38, ⼸ KANGXI RADICAL BOW ← ⼷ [U+2F37] Kangxi Radicals ⼹ → [U+2F39]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

弓 (Kangxi radical 57, 弓+0, 3 strokes, cangjie input 弓 (N), four-corner 1720₇, composition ⿱コ㇉)

1. Kangxi radical #57, ⼸.

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/弓
• 𭇂, 𡉖, 𫝳, 𢁠, 𢖸, 㧈, 𬇗, 杛, 𰎉, 𭨧, 𧘏, 𥸲, 𥾏, 𮓶, 𧢺, 躬, 䩑, 𩨙, 𩾫
• 𢀶, 矤, 𫾰, 𬶿, 𧱶, 𡗝, 宆, 𡰬, 芎, 𥝙, 穹, 𥫤, 𩁽, 𪎔, 𦦎, 夷, 粥, 䰜, 𠰀, 𤵶, 虇

See also

• 發, 雋

References

• KangXi: page 356, character 1
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 9692
• Dae Jaweon: page 671, character 22
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 987, character 11
• Unihan data for U+5F13

Chinese

simp. and trad.		弓
alternative forms		𭚥

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 弓
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (弓) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
弓	*kʷɯŋ
穹	*kʰʷɯŋ
焪	*kʰʷɯŋ, *kʰʷɯŋs
芎	*kʰʷɯŋ

Pictogram (象形) – a bow.

Etymology

Possibly related to Proto-Tibeto-Burman *kuːŋ (“tree, branch, stem”) (Coblin, 1986), semantically connected with the shape of a bent tree branch. Cognate with Burmese ကိုင်း (kuing:, “to bend over; to be bent”), အကိုင်း (a.kuing:, “stalk; branch”), Tedim Chin [script needed] (kung¹, “tree”), Jingpho kung (“to branch; to grow”), lakung (“branch; limb”), Lepcha ᰀᰩᰵ (kóng, “branch”), ᰀᰫᰵ (kúng, “tree”) (STEDT).

Schuessler (2007) proposes that both Old Chinese 弓 (OC *kʷɯŋ) and Proto-Tibeto-Burman *kuːŋ are derived from Proto-Mon-Khmer *koŋ, whence Nyah Kur [script needed] (kóoŋ, “bent (in the middle)”), Mon ကိုၚ် (“to be bent”), Khmer កោង (kaong, “to bend; to be bent”), Khasi pyrkhung (“to bend; to arch”), Pear kuŋ (“bend”), Vietnamese cong (“to be bent, curved”).

Also compare Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ku(ː)m (“arched; vaulted”)

Derivatives are 肱 (OC *kʷɯːŋ, “(upper) arm”) and 穹 (OC *kʰʷɯŋ, “arched; vault; sky”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): gōng (gong¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄥ

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): гун (gun, I)

• Cantonese (Jyutping): gung¹
• Gan (Wiktionary): gung¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): kiûng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): giung¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): gung¹
• Min Bei (KCR): gé̤ng
• Min Dong (BUC): gṳ̆ng
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): keng / kiong

  (Teochew, Peng'im): gêng¹

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Shanghainese): ¹kon
• Xiang (Wiktionary): gong¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gōng
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄥ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gong
    • Wade–Giles: kung¹
    • Yale: gūng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gong
    • Palladius: гун (gun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: гун (gun, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: gung¹
    • Yale: gūng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: gung¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: gung¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʊŋ⁵⁵/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: gung¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuŋ⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kiûng
    • Hakka Romanization System: giung´
    • Hagfa Pinyim: giung¹
    • Sinological IPA: /ki̯uŋ²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: giung¹
    • Sinological IPA: /ciʊŋ⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: gung¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /kũŋ¹¹/
• Min Bei
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: gé̤ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kœyŋ⁵⁴/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: gṳ̆ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kyŋ⁵⁵/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: keng / kiong
    • Tâi-lô: king / kiong
    • Phofsit Daibuun: kefng, kiofng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/, /kiɔŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kiɪŋ³³/, /kiɔŋ³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/, /kiɔŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/, /kiɔŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /kiɪŋ⁴⁴/, /kiɔŋ⁴⁴/

Note:

• keng - vernacular;
• kiong - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: gêng¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: keng
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /keŋ³³/

Wu

• (Shanghainese)
  • Wugniu: ¹kon
  • Wiktionary Romanisation: ¹kon
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /koŋ⁵³/

Xiang

• (Changsha)
  • Wiktionary: gong¹
  • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /kʊŋ³³/
  • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /kən³³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 弓
Mandarin	Beijing	/kuŋ⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/kuŋ⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/kuŋ²¹/
	Jinan	/kuŋ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/kəŋ²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/kuŋ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/kuŋ²¹/
	Xining	/kuə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/kuŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/kũn³¹/
	Ürümqi	/kuŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/koŋ⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/koŋ⁵⁵/ /t͡ɕyoŋ⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/koŋ⁵⁵/ /t͡ɕioŋ⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/koŋ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/koŋ³¹/
	Hefei	/kəŋ²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/kuəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/kuŋ¹³/
	Hohhot	/kũŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/koŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/koŋ⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/koŋ³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕoŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/kuʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/kan¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/koŋ³³/
	Xiangtan	/kən³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/kuŋ⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/kiuŋ⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/kioŋ²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/koŋ⁵³/
	Nanning	/kuŋ⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/kuŋ⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/kiɔŋ⁵⁵/ /kiŋ⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/kyŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/kœyŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/keŋ³³/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/koŋ²³/ /kiaŋ²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: kjuwng

Rime
Character	弓
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	東 (2)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	居戎切
Baxter	kjuwng
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kɨuŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/kiuŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/kiuŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kuwŋ/
Li Rong	/kiuŋ/
Wang Li	/kĭuŋ/
Bernard Karlgren	/ki̯uŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jiōng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	gung1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*kʷəŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*kʷɯŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	弓
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	gōng
Middle Chinese	‹ kjuwng ›
Old Chinese	/*kʷəŋ/
English	bow (n.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	弓
Reading #	1/1
No.	4079
Phonetic component	弓
Rime group	蒸
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	弓
Old Chinese	/*kʷɯŋ/

Definitions

弓

1. bow (weapon) (Classifier: 張／张)
2. bow (of a stringed instrument, or a cotton bow, or catapult) (Classifier: 張／张)
3. curved; arched
4. to arch; to bend
5. (Jiexi Hakka) rainbow
6. (obsolete) Synonym of 步 (bù) (a traditional Chinese unit of length and area)
7. a surname: Gong

Synonyms

• (bow of a stringed instrument, or a cotton bow, or catapult) 弓子 (gōngzi)
• (to arch): 彎曲／弯曲 (wānqū)
• (rainbow):

Dialectal synonyms of 虹 (“rainbow”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		虹, 螮蝀, 雩, 隮
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		彩虹, 虹
Mandarin	Beijing	虹
	Taiwan	彩虹
	Tianjin	虹
	Langfang	虹
	Tangshan	虹
	Cangzhou	虹
	Xianxian (Xiaoying)	彩虹, 虹
	Baoding	虹
	Shijiazhuang	虹
	Daming	虹
	Ulanhot	七彩虹
	Tongliao	彩虹
	Chifeng	虹
	Bayanhot	彩虹, 虹
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	彩虹
	Harbin	虹
	Wuchang (Yingchengzi)	虹
	Shenyang	虹
	Yantai (Muping)	虹
	Qingdao	虹
	Rizhao	虹
	Jinan	虹
	Luoyang	虹
	Wanrong	虹
	Zhengzhou	虹
	Kaifeng	虹
	Ankang	虹
	Ankang (Xianhe)	虹
	Baihe (Maoping)	虹
	Shiquan	虹
	Ziyang	虹
	Xi'an	虹
	Dingbian	彩虹
	Yinchuan	虹
	Yongning (Najiahu)	虹
	Wuzhong	虹
	Yanchi	虹
	Tongxin	虹
	Zhongwei	虹
	Guyuan	虹
	Longde	虹
	Jingyuan	虹
	Lanzhou	虹
	Xining	虹
	Ürümqi	虹
	Ürümqi (Xigou)	彩虹
	Ürümqi (Changshanzi)	虹
	Yanqi	虹
	Wuhan	虹
	Huanggang	虹
	Hong'an	虹
	Chengdu	虹, 天橋, 彩虹, 天龍
	Chengdu (Xindu)	虹
	Muli	虹
	Guiyang	虹
	Kunming	虹
	Guilin	虹, 彩虹
	Guilin (Lingui)	虹
	Pingle	龍虹, 彩虹
	Liuzhou	虹, 彩虹
	Liuzhou (Luorong)	虹
	Luzhai	彩虹
	Nanning (Wuming)	彩虹
	Yizhou	龍虹
Luocheng (Dongmen)	龍虹 dated, 彩虹
Tianlin (Langping)	虹
Tianlin (Pingtang)	虹
Xiangzhou (Nalu)	虹槓東
Xuzhou	虹
Yangzhou	虹
Nanjing	虹
Hefei	虹
Chuzhou	虹
Nantong	鱟, 虹
Qimen (Anling Junhua)	虹
Jiangshan (Nianbadu)	虹
Kaihua (Huabu)	虹
Yushan (Huaiyu)	虹
Singapore	彩虹
Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	虹
Masanchin (Shaanxi Dungan)	虹
Kokang	虹吃水, 龍虹
Dagudi (Maliba)	彩虹
Reshuitang (Longling)	老虹
Mae Salong (Lancang)	老虹, 彩虹
Mae Sai (Tengchong)	老虹
Olginsky (Mikhaylovka)	虹
Cantonese	Guangzhou	虹, 天虹, 龍拱
	Hong Kong	彩虹, 天虹
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	天弓
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	虹
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	天弓
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	天虹
	Macau	虹
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	虹
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	龍
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	龍虹
	Foshan	鑊耳龍
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	龍
	Foshan (Shunde)	拱篷
	Foshan (Sanshui)	鑊耳龍
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	龍
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	虹拱
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	播虹
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	龍孔
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	龍孔
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	叫虹
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	鑊耳, 水拱
	Taishan	鑊耳, 水虹
	Taishan (Guanghai)	龍生水, 鑊耳虹, 彩虹
	Kaiping (Chikan)	鑊耳龍, 水拱
	Enping (Niujiang)	鑊耳龍
	Heshan (Yayao)	虹
	Dongguan	虹
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	虹
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	天弓
	Qingyuan	虹
	Fogang	虹, 龍
	Yingde (Hanguang)	天弓
	Yangshan	虹
	Lianshan (Butian)	汗龍
	Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)	天虹
	Shaoguan	虹
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	虹
	Renhua	天虹
	Lechang	天虹
	Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)	龍
	Sihui	龍
	Guangning	龍
	Deqing	龍
	Huaiji	虹
	Fengkai (Nanfeng)	旱龍
	Yunfu	龍
	Xinxing	龍
	Yunan (Pingtai)	龍
	Yangjiang	破篷
	Xinyi	湴更
	Lianjiang	虹
	Nanning	虹, 雙虹
	Nanning (Tanka)	彩虹
	Wuzhou	彩虹
	Yulin	龐虹
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	天虹, 虹
	Hepu (Shatian)	拱
	Guiping	虹
	Guiping (Jintian)	虹
	Guiping (Jiangkou)	虹, 彩虹
	Guiping (Madong)	龐虹
	Pingnan (Danzhu)	龍
	Mengshan (Xihe)	龍
	Guigang (Nanjiang)	虹
Beiliu	湴界, 彩虹
Beiliu (Tangliao)	虹
Baise	虹, 雙虹
Bobai	虹
Lingshan	龐虹
Pubei	龐虹
Qinzhou	天虹, 虹, 彩虹
Qinzhou (Xiaodong)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Changtan)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Nasi)	龐虹
Qinzhou (Xiniujiao)	虹
Beihai	天虹, 天橋
Beihai (Nankang)	拱
Beihai (Yingpan)	拱
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	拱
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	篷拱
Ningming	虹
Hezhou (Pumen)	虹
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	天弓
Chongzuo (Laituan)	天虹
Fusui (Qujiu)	蛤筒食水
Lingchuan (Yangjia)	龍虹
Pingle (Majia)	彩虹
Pingle (Shuishan)	虹
Danzhou	天虹
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	彩虹, 彩龍
Sarikei (Xinhui)	龍拱
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	彩虹
Móng Cái	天弓
Yangon (Taishan)	虹
Mandalay (Taishan)	鑊耳虹
Bangkok (Guangfu)	虹
Gan	Nanchang	虹
	Pengze	虹
	Yanshan	虹
	Lichuan	天虹, 天吊, 虹
	Pingxiang	虹
	Guixi	虹
Hakka	Meixian	天弓
	Xingning	天弓
	Fengshun (Liuhuang)	彩虹, 虹仔
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	彩虹, 青里
	Huidong (Daling)	天弓
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	天弓
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	天弓
	Zengcheng (Zhengguo)	天弓
	Zhongshan (Wuguishan)	天弓食水
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	虹
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	天弓
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	天弓
	Wuhua (Changbu)	天弓
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	天弓
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	虹
	Zijin	天弓
	Nanxiong (Zhuji)	虹
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	天弓
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	龍
	Liannan	天虹
	Conghua (Lütian)	虹
	Jiexi	弓
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	虹
	Changting	虹
	Wuping	天弓
	Wuping (Yanqian)	天弓
	Wuping (Pingyu)	天弓
	Liancheng	虹
	Liancheng (Peitian)	天門神
	Ninghua	虹
	Yudu	虹
	Ningdu	虹
	Ruijin	虹
	Shicheng	虹
	Shangyou (Shexi)	虹
	Tonggu (Sandu)	天虹
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	虹
	Dayu	虹
	Taoyuan	天弓
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	天弓, 虹
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Pingtung (Wuluo, Ligang; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Kaohsiung (Meinong; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Kaohsiung (Shanlin; S. Sixian)	天弓
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	虹
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	天弓
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	虹
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	虹
	Hong Kong	天弓
	Mengshan (Xihe)	虹
	Luchuan	天公虹
	Luchuan (Daqiao)	天公降水
	Bobai (Shahe)	天弓
	Bobai (Longtan)	天弓
	Bobai (Lingping)	天弓
	Beiliu (Tang'an)	天公食水
	Beiliu (Gonghe)	天弓
	Xingye (Gaofeng)	天弓
	Mashan (Pianlian)	天公食水
	Guilin (Xiaojiang, Lingui)	虹
	Lipu (Shuangduitun)	彩虹
	Lipu (Dashigu)	彩虹, 月龍
	Pingle (Tong'an)	彩龍
	Guidong	天虹
Chengdu (Longtan)	天弓
Chengdu (Shiling)	天弓
Chengdu (Longwang)	天弓
Chengdu (Shibantan)	天弓
Chengdu (Xindu Subdistrict)	天弓, 虹
Sabah (Longchuan)	天弓
Senai (Huiyang)	天弓, 彩虹
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	弓
Singkawang	天弓
Pontianak (Meixian)	天弓
Mempawah (Meixian)	天弓
Medan (Metal - Meixian)	彩虹
Singapore (Meixian)	天弓
Singapore (Dabu)	彩虹
Bangkok (Meixian)	彩虹, 天弓
Bangkok (Fengshun)	弓
Bangkok (Jiexi)	弓
Huizhou	Jixi	日頭紅虹, 虹
	Shexian	虹, 彩虹
	Shexian (Xianggao)	虹
	Shexian (Daguyun)	虹
	Tunxi	虹
	Yixian	虹
	Qimen	虹
	Qimen (Anling Minhua)	虹
	Wuyuan	虹
	Fuliang	虹
	Dexing	彩虹
	Shitai (Xianyu)	虹
Jin	Taiyuan	虹
	Pingyao	虹
	Datong	虹
	Datong (Xicetian, Yunzhou)	虹
	Xinzhou	虹
	Changzhi	虹
	Taibus (Baochang)	虹
	Linhe	虹
	Jining	虹
	Hohhot	虹
	Baotou	虹
	Dongsheng	虹
	Haibowan	虹
	Zhangjiakou	虹
	Handan	虹
Jiuxing Yumin	Jiande	鱟
	Jinhua	鱟
	Lanxi	鱟
	Tunxi	虹
Min Bei	Jian'ou	虹
	Jian'ou (Dikou)	虹
	Zhenghe (Zhenqian)	虹
	Pucheng (Shibei)	虹, 攔溪仔 dated
Min Dong	Fuzhou	虹
	Fuqing	虹
	Gutian	虹
	Shouning	虹
	Matsu	虹
Min Nan	Xiamen	虹
	Quanzhou	虹
	Jinjiang	虹
	Yongchun	虹
	Zhangzhou	虹
	Hua'an	虹
	Dongshan	虹
	Taipei	虹
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	虹
	Kaohsiung	虹
	Yilan	虹
	Changhua (Lukang)	虹
	Taichung	虹
	Taichung (Wuqi)	虹
	Tainan	虹
	Taitung	虹
	Hsinchu	虹
	Kinmen	虹
	Penghu (Magong)	虹
	Penang (Hokkien)	虹
	Singapore (Hokkien)	虹
	Manila (Hokkien)	彩虹
	Zhangping (Yongfu)	天虹
	Pingnan (Shangdu)	虹
	Pingnan (Pingtian)	虹
	Pingnan (Sijie)	虹
	Guiping (Xiaowen)	虹, 彩虹
	Guiping (Dongsheng)	發紅雲
	Guilin (Biyange)	龍公
	Pingle (Zhoutang)	龍, 天橋
	Lechang (Tatou)	天虹
	Renhua (Changshabei)	天虹
	Yingde (Yuzui)	虹
	Yunan (Liantan)	龍, 虹
	Yuhuan (Kanmen)	虹
	Chaozhou	虹
	Shantou	虹
	Shantou (Chenghai)	虹
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	虹, 彩虹
	Jieyang	虹
	Haifeng	虹
	Bangkok (Teochew)	虹
	Chiang Mai (Teochew)	彩虹
	Hat Yai (Teochew)	虹
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	虹
	Pontianak (Teochew)	虹
	Leizhou	虹
	Wenchang	虹
	Haikou	虹
	Wanning	虹
Puxian Min	Putian	虹
	Putian (Donghai)	虹
	Putian (Jiangkou)	虹
	Putian (Nanri)	虹
	Xianyou	虹
	Xianyou (Fengting)	虹
	Xianyou (Youyang)	虹
	Fuding (Aoyao)	虹
Min Zhong	Yong'an	虹
	Sanyuan	虹
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	播虹
	Sanxiang	跨篷
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	虹
	Nanning (Shajing)	虹
	Nanning (Gejiayuan)	虹
	Nanning (Zhegulu)	虹, 拱橋
	Nanning (Silian)	虹, 天虹
	Nanning (Xiuxiang)	虹
	Nanning (Sucun)	虹, 幹筒
	Binyang	虹, 龍虹
	Binyang (Xinqiao)	虹
	Hengzhou (Baihe)	龐虹
Northern Pinghua	Guilin (Dahe)	虹
	Guilin (Chaoyang)	虹
	Guilin (Dongbianzhou)	虹
	Guilin (Zhuyuan)	虹
	Guilin (Dabu)	雨界
	Guilin (Yangjia)	龍
	Guilin (Qianjing)	雨虹
	Guilin (Wutong, Lingui)	江東龍, 龍虹
	Guilin (Huangsha, Lingui)	龍虹
	Guilin (Liangjiang, Lingui)	天龍, 彩圈
	Guilin (Liutang, Lingui)	虹
	Lingchuan (Sanjie)	虹
	Lingchuan (Gaoqiao)	虹
	Lingchuan (Gudong)	龍虹
	Lingchuan (Tanxia)	虹
	Lingchuan (Shuangzhou)	彩虹, 虹
	Lingchuan (Gongping)	龍虹
	Guanyang (Guanyinge)	龍虹
	Pingle (Zhangjia)	虹
	Yangshuo (Putao)	雨虹
	Liucheng (Yangmei)	虹
	Luocheng (Niubi)	長虹
Shehua	Ningde	蛟龍
	Fu'an	蛟龍
	Fuding	蛟龍
	Zhouning	蛟龍
	Xiapu	蛟龍
	Shouning	虹
	Gutian	蛟龍
	Luoyuan	蛟龍
	Sanming	蛟龍
	Shunchang	蛟龍
	Hua'an	蛟龍
	Guixi (Zhangping)	蛟龍
	Yanshan (Taiyuan)	蛟龍
	Cangnan	蛟龍
	Jingning	蛟龍
	Lishui	蛟龍
	Longyou	蛟龍
	Hangzhou (Lin'an)	蛟龍
	Chaozhou	蛟龍
	Fengshun	蛟龍
Wu	Shanghai	虹, 彩虹, 鱟 dated
	Shanghai (Chongming)	鱟
	Suzhou	鱟, 彩虹, 虹
	Wuxi	彩虹, 虹, 鱟
	Danyang	虹
	Hangzhou	鱟, 彩虹
	Hangzhou (Fuyang)	鱟
	Ningbo	鱟, 虹
	Linhai	鱟
	Yuhuan (Damaiyu)	鱟
	Yuhuan (Chumen)	鱟
	Wenzhou	鱟
	Songyang (Gushi)	鱟
	Longquan	鱟
	Jinhua	鱟, 彩虹
	Jinhua (Tangxi)	熯
Xiang	Changsha	虹
	Xiangtan	虹
	Xiangxiang	虹
	Xiangxiang (Meiqiao)	彩虹
	Loudi	虹
	Shuangfeng	虹
	Hengshan	虹, 雲虹
	Hengshan (Baiguo)	斗雨
	Jiangyong	蟲
	Quanzhou	彩虹
	Guanyang (Wenshi)	虹
	Qinglong (Changliu Laba Miao)	虹

Compounds

• 一弓
• 主動脈弓／主动脉弓 (zhǔdòngmàigōng)
• 仲弓
• 傷弓之鳥／伤弓之鸟
• 半弓
• 天弓 (tiāngōng)
• 定弓田
• 定弓虛稅／定弓虚税
• 左右開弓／左右开弓
• 弓不虛發／弓不虚发
• 弓人 (gōngrén)
• 弓兒／弓儿
• 弓兒扯滿／弓儿扯满
• 弓兵
• 弓冶
• 弓匠
• 弓套
• 弓子 (gōngzi)
• 弓師／弓师
• 弓弓
• 弓弦 (gōngxián)
• 弓弩 (gōngnǔ)
• 弓形 (gōngxíng)
• 弓形鑽／弓形钻
• 弓影杯蛇
• 弓影浮杯
• 弓手 (gōngshǒu)
• 弓折矢盡／弓折矢尽
• 弓折箭盡／弓折箭尽
• 弓招
• 弓旌
• 弓根 (gōnggēn)
• 弓極／弓极
• 弓步 (gōngbù)
• 弓毛 (gōngmáo)
• 弓漿蟲／弓浆虫
• 弓琴
• 弓矛之士
• 弓矢 (gōngshǐ)
• 弓硯緣／弓砚缘
• 弓箭 (gōngjiàn)
• 弓箭手 (gōngjiànshǒu)
• 弓箭步 (gōngjiànbù)
• 弓繳／弓缴 (gōngzhuó)
• 弓背
• 弓腰
• 弓腰曲背
• 弓蕉 (gung1 ziu1)
• 弓蛇
• 弓裘
• 弓調馬服／弓调马服
• 弓足
• 弓身
• 弓鞋 (gōngxié)
• 弓鞬
• 弓韣／弓𱂋
• 弓馬／弓马 (gōngmǎ)
• 弓鰭魚／弓鳍鱼
• 弩弓
• 弸弓
• 張弓拔刃／张弓拔刃
• 張弓挾矢／张弓挟矢
• 強弓硬弩／强弓硬弩 (qiáng gōng yìng nǔ)
• 張弓簇箭／张弓簇箭
• 張羅彀弓／张罗彀弓
• 彈弓／弹弓 (dàngōng)
• 彎弓／弯弓
• 彎弓搭箭／弯弓搭箭
• 彤弓
• 彫弓／雕弓
• 悶弓兒／闷弓儿
• 手弓鋸／手弓锯
• 打背弓
• 扯弓搭箭 (chě gōng dā jiàn)
• 拈弓搭箭
• 拉硬弓
• 搭弩張弓／搭弩张弓
• 撥弓／拨弓
• 杯弓蛇影 (bēigōng-shéyǐng)
• 棄弓折箭／弃弓折箭
• 楚弓楚得
• 檀弓
• 櫜弓臥鼓／櫜弓卧鼓
• 步弓 (bùgōng)
• 滿弓／满弓
• 烹犬藏弓
• 玈弓
• 玉弓
• 琴弓 (qíngōng)
• 番弓
• 盤馬彎弓／盘马弯弓
• 硬弓
• 硬弩強弓／硬弩强弓
• 窄弓弓
• 窩弓／窝弓
• 綿弓／绵弓
• 繃弓／绷弓 (bēnggōng)
• 背弓
• 良弓
• 落背弓
• 角弓 (jiǎogōng)
• 調弓號猿／调弓号猿
• 貫弓／贯弓
• 開弓／开弓 (kāigōng)
• 開弦弓／开弦弓 (Kāixiángōng)
• 關弓／关弓
• 韜弓／韬弓
• 驚弓之鳥／惊弓之鸟 (jīnggōngzhīniǎo)
• 鳥盡弓藏／鸟尽弓藏 (niǎojìngōngcáng)

 

See also

• 箭 (jiàn)
• 矢 (shǐ)

References

• “弓”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

弓

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: く (ku); くう (kū)
• Kan-on: きゅう (kyū, Jōyō)^{←きゆう (kyuu, historical)}
• Kun: たらし (tarashi, 弓); ゆ (yu, 弓); ゆみ (yumi, 弓, Jōyō)
• Nanori: こ (ko); ゆ (yu)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
弓
ゆ Grade: 2
kun’yomi

From Old Japanese. In modern Japanese, only found as a prefix in compounds.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [jɯ̟ᵝ]

Prefix

弓(ゆ) • (yu-) 

1. a bow, a bow shape

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 弓(ゆ)懸(がけ) (yugake), 弽(ゆがけ) (yugake), 韘(ゆがけ) (yugake)
• 弓(ゆ)束(づか) (yuzuka), 弓(ゆ)柄(づか) (yuzuka), 弣(ゆづか) (yuzuka)
• 弓(ゆ)末(ずえ) (yuzue)
• 弓(ゆ)弦(づる) (yuzuru, “bowstring”)
• 弓(ゆ)弭(はず) (yuhazu), 弓(ゆ)筈(はず) (yuhazu), 弓(ゆ)彇(はず) (yuhazu, “nock on a bow where the bowstring sits”)

Etymology 2

弓 (yumi): Four different types of bow.

弓 (yu, yumi, tarashi, kyū): Japanese bows, arrows, and arrow-stand.

Yumi bow parts names

Kanji in this term
弓
ゆみ Grade: 2
kun’yomi

From Old Japanese. Appears in the Man'yōshū (c. 759 CE). A surface analysis suggests a combination of Old Japanese yu (see above) + suffixing element mi, itself of uncertain derivation.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ゆみ​ [yùmíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [jɯ̟ᵝmʲi]

Noun

弓(ゆみ) • (yumi) 

1. a bow:
   1. (weaponry) a bow for shooting arrows
   2. (music) a bow for playing a stringed instrument such as a violin or cello
2. archery
3. (Shinto) a type of kagura (sacred Shinto song and dance) intended to drive away evil
4. short for 破(は)魔(ま)弓(ゆみ) (hama yumi): a ceremonial archery bow with the power to dispel evil
5. a bow shape, a curve
6. a bow-shaped tool used to beat ginned cotton into a softer and finer textile

Coordinate terms

• (archery): 仗(つえ) (tsue)/杖(つえ) (tsue): yumi stave; 弦(つる) (tsuru): yumi bowstring; 矢(や) (ya): an arrow (鏃(やじり) (yajiri): arrowheads; 簳(やがら) (yagara): arrow-shafts; 羽(はね) (hane): arrow-fletchings); 靫(うつぼ) (utsubo)): an quiver; 胸当(むねあ)て (muneate): kyudo plastron/chestguard; 弽(ゆがけ) (yugake): kyudo gloves; 弩(いしゆみ) (ishiyumi): a crossbow

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 和弓(わゆみ) (wayumi, “Japanese bow/yumi”)
• 弓矢(ゆみや) (yumiya, “bow and arrow”)
• 大弓(だいきゅう) (daikyū, “longbow”)
• 半弓(はんきゅう) (hankyū, “shortbow”)
• 梓弓(あずさゆみ) (azusayumi, “a bow made from the wood of the Japanese cherry birch (Betula grossa”)
• 破魔弓(はまゆみ) (hamayumi, “a traditional Shintō ceremonial bow for dispelling evil”)
• 重籐弓(しげどうゆみ) (shigedōyumi), 滋籐(しげどう)弓(ゆみ) (shigedō yumi), 繁籐(しげどう)弓(ゆみ) (shigedō yumi, “a rattan wood bow”)

See also

• ロングボウ (rongubō, “longbow”)

Further reading

• 弓_(武器) on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ja (archery)
• Yumi (Japanese archery bow) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• 弓_(楽器) on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ja (music)
• Bow_(music) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
弓
たらし Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alteration from torashi, 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb torasu, from tora as the 未然形 (mizenkei, “incomplete form”) of verb 取る (toru, “to take”) + す (su, honorific suffix in Old Japanese). Original meaning was “something kept to hand”.

Alternative forms

• 執

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ta̠ɾa̠ɕi]

Noun

弓(たらし) • (tarashi) 

1. (rare, honorific) an archery bow, particularly one belonging to a noble

Synonyms

• 御(み)執(たらし), 御(み)弓(たらし) (mitarashi)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
弓
きゅう Grade: 2
kan’on

From Middle Chinese 弓 (MC kjuwng). Compare modern Mandarin 弓 (gōng).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) きゅ​う [kyúꜜù] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [kʲɨᵝː]

Noun

弓(きゅう) • (kyū) 

1. (rare) a bow
2. (obsolete) in ancient Chinese archery, a unit of length for measuring the distance between the archer and the target; one kyū was equal to six 尺 (shaku), roughly six feet or 182 centimeters
3. (obsolete) in ancient China, a unit of length for surveying land; one kyū was equal to eight 尺 (shaku), roughly eight feet or 242 centimeters

Usage notes

In modern Japanese, the reading kyū is most often found in compounds.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 胡(こ)弓(きゅう) (kokyū): a traditional Chinese fiddle
• 弓(きゅう)道(どう) (kyūdō): archery as a martial art
• 大(だい)弓(きゅう) (daikyū): a great bow, a long bow
• 半(はん)弓(きゅう) (hankyū): a half bow, a short bow

Korean

弓
the shape of the Hun bow

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kuŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [궁]

Hanja

Wikisource

弓 (eumhun 활 궁 (hwal gung))

1. Hanja form^? of 궁 (“bow (for shooting arrows”).

Compounds

• 궁도 (弓道, gungdo, “archery”)

Vietnamese

Han character

弓: Hán Nôm readings: cung, cong, củng

1. a bow

Compounds

hình cung (形弓): an arc