niè

槷

Character · NounTraditional臬

bullseye; standard; law

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

noun

the bullseye or center of an archery target

literary

Literary/classical term. Refers specifically to the precise center point used as the standard for aiming.

Shè射
jiàn箭
xū须
miáo瞄
zhǔn准
niè臬
 。

In archery, one must aim for the bullseye.

Guàn贯
gé革
shè射
niè臬
 ，
cǐ此
nǎi乃
jīng精
bīng兵
 。

To shoot through leather and hit the bullseye—these are elite soldiers.

2.

noun

a gnomon (the pin of a sundial); a standard; a criterion

literary

By extension, refers to a standard, rule, or law, deriving from its role as a fixed point for measurement. This extended meaning is more common in classical texts than the literal 'gnomon' meaning.

Lì立
niè臬
yǐ以
cè测
rì日
yǐng影
 。

Set up a gnomon to measure the sun's shadow.

Fèng奉
wéi为
guī圭
niè臬
 。

Regard (something) as a standard or criterion (an idiom).

Show 1 more example
Guó国
zhī之
niè臬
xiàn宪
 ，
bù不
kě可
qīng轻
fèi废
 。

The laws and standards of the state cannot be lightly abolished.