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弮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
弮juàna repeating crossbowx, 9 strokes, radical 弓
弮juàncrossbow (arch.)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 弓
弮quāna repeating crossbowx, 9 strokes, radical 弓
弮quāncrossbow (arch.)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 弓
juàn(juan4)juan
primary
T4
  1. 1a repeating crossbow
  2. 2crossbow (arch.)
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March 24, 2026

弮juàn(juan4)

The character 弮 (juàn) refers to a type of repeating crossbow used in ancient China, known for its ability to shoot multiple arrows in quick succession. It can also mean a curled-up scroll, reflecting its historical usage in archery and literature. While not commonly used in modern Mandarin, it represents significant elements of Chinese martial and literary history.

Strokes9Radical弓
Cultural note

The repeating crossbow played a crucial role in ancient Chinese warfare, showcasing the ingenuity of Chinese technology. The character 弮 embodies the blend of martial prowess and literary tradition in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Think of the character 弮 as a crossbow (弓) that has a 'repeating' mechanism (the inner components resemble a series of arrows lined up). Imagine a skilled archer quickly releasing arrows from this bow, which helps you remember both the sound 'juàn' and the meaning related to archery.

Meanings of 弮

juàn(juan4)
primary
1a repeating crossbow
2crossbow (arch.)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 弮

弮Simplified
9Strokes
弓Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 弮

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Podcast: 弮

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AI study notes for 弮

Usage Notes

This character is considered archaic and primarily used in historical texts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with 卷 (juàn), which means 'to roll' or 'to scroll.' Use 弮 in contexts discussing historical weaponry or literature, but avoid using it in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 弮 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be associated with HSK Level 3 words related to weapons and history. Students should focus on understanding its historical context rather than practical usage, making connections with characters like 卷 (juàn) for better retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 弮 with 卷 due to their similar pronunciations and forms. For example, saying '我有一个弮' (I have a juàn) to mean 'I have a scroll' is incorrect; the correct term would be 卷.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 弮

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Etymology of 弮

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

bow

Semantic (meaning)弓
+
Phonetic (sound)龹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

弮 = 弓 + 龹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 弮

IDS Structure⿱龹弓
弮Full character
=
龹quan3
top
弓Gong1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 弮?

How to say a repeating crossbow in Chinese

“a repeating crossbow” in Chinese is弮juàn

The character 弮 (juàn) refers to a type of repeating crossbow used in ancient China, known for its ability to shoot multiple arrows in quick succession. It can also mean a curled-up scroll, reflecting its historical usage in archery and literature. While not commonly used in modern Mandarin, it represents significant elements of Chinese martial and literary history.

When to use 弮

This character is considered archaic and primarily used in historical texts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with 卷 (juàn), which means 'to roll' or 'to scroll.' Use 弮 in contexts discussing historical weaponry or literature, but avoid using it in everyday conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 弮 with 卷 due to their similar pronunciations and forms. For example, saying '我有一个弮' (I have a juàn) to mean 'I have a scroll' is incorrect; the correct term would be 卷.

Write 弮

弮

Practice writing 弮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 弮

No, 弮 is an archaic term and is rarely used in contemporary language.

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