折箭

Chinese

		tenth (in price); to break; to fold tenth (in price); to break; to fold; to turn; broken (as of rope, stick)	arrow
trad. (折箭)		折	箭
simp. #(折箭)		折	箭

Etymology

Literally: break an arrow in half (in order to seal a promise)

The implication was that if one broke one's promise, one's fate would be similar to that of the arrow's.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zhéjiàn

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhéjiàn
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhéjiàn
    • Wade–Giles: chê²-chien⁴
    • Yale: jé-jyàn
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jerjiann
    • Palladius: чжэцзянь (čžɛczjanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

Verb

折箭

1. (archaic) to make a solemn pledge