chāo

弨

Character · Noun

loose bow; bow

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

the appearance of a loose or slack bow; a relaxed bowstring

archaic

Describes the state of a bow that is unstrung or not drawn taut. This is an archaic literary term appearing in classical texts like the *Book of Songs* (Shijing).

Tóng彤
gōng弓
chāo弨
xī兮
 ，
shòu受
yán言
cáng藏
zhī之
 。

The red bow is relaxed and unstrung; received, it is stored away.

Qí其
chāo弨
yě也
 ，
rú如
chí弛
yú于
sōu廋
 。

Its looseness was like a bow slackened at the end of a hunt.

2.

noun

bow (weapon)

archaic

An archaic synonym for 弓 (gōng), used in literary or historical contexts.

Zuǒ左
pèi佩
chāo弨
 ，
yòu右
shè设
jiàn箭
 。

On the left he wears a bow, on the right he places arrows.

Zhí执
chāo弨
ér而
shè射
 ，
wú无
bù不
zhòng中
zhě者
 。

He took up his bow and shot, and there was nothing he did not hit.