戈

gē

丿 + 弋

Definitions

gē (noun) dagger-axe

Etymology

Pictograph of a weapon with a long shaft and horizontal blade.

About

戈 is an independent pictograph and a fundamental radical, depicting a dagger-axe, an ancient pole weapon with a long shaft and horizontal blade. Charioteers wielded it for hooking or striking enemies. As the weapon fell out of use, the character shifted to broadly symbolize weapons, war, and conflict. Today, it serves as a semantic component in numerous characters related to fighting, cutting, and martial affairs, such as 战 (war) and 戎 (military).

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

戈壁是一个沙漠。

Gē bì shì yī gè shā mò.

The Gobi is a desert.

干戈不是好东西。

Gān gē bù shì hǎo dōng xi.

Weapons are not good things.

他倒戈投向敌人。

Tā dǎo gē tóu xiàng dí rén.

He defected to the enemy.

兵戈之声令人恐惧。

Bīng gē zhī shēng lìng rén kǒng jù.

The sound of weapons makes people afraid.

戈壁滩上气候恶劣。

Gē bì tān shàng qì hòu è liè.

The climate on the Gobi desert is harsh.

古代人们使用干戈。

Gǔ dài rén men shǐ yòng gān gē.

Ancient people used weapons.

在冲突中，倒戈是危险的。

Zài chōng tū zhōng, dǎo gē shì wēi xiǎn de.

In conflict, defection is dangerous.

戈壁的地理环境非常独特。

Gē bì de dì lǐ huán jìng fēi cháng dú tè.

The geographical environment of the Gobi is very unique.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 弋

Example Words