攻

gōng

工 + 攵

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

gōng (verb) to attack

gōng (verb) to study; to research

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.

Semantic: 攵 Phonetic: 工

About

攻 is a phonosemantic compound: the right radical 攵 (strike, action) suggests force or beating, while the left radical 工 (work) supplies the pronunciation. Its primary meaning is to attack or assault a target. Extended senses include tackling a problem, studying diligently, or specializing in a field, channeling an aggressive approach to labor.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们进攻那座城市。

Wǒmen jìngōng nà zuò chéngshì.

We attack that city.

敌人攻破了防线。

Dírén gōngpòle fángxiàn.

The enemy broke through the defense line.

军队准备攻占高地。

Jūnduì zhǔnbèi gōngzhàn gāodì.

The army prepares to capture the high ground.

这次攻击非常突然。

Zhè cì gōngjí fēichāng tūrán.

This attack was very sudden.

他们用策略攻下了城堡。

Tāmen yòng cèlüè gōngxiàle chéngbǎo.

They used strategy to capture the castle.

在游戏中，他擅长攻击对手。

Zài yóuxì zhōng, tā shàncháng gōngjí duìshǒu.

In the game, he is good at attacking opponents.

为了攻克这个难题，他们花了很长时间。

Wèile gōngkè zhège nántí, tāmen huāle hěn cháng shíjiān.

To overcome this difficult problem, they spent a long time.

如果对方攻过来，我们必须防守。

Rúguǒ duìfāng gōng guòlái, wǒmen bìxū fángshǒu.

If the opponent attacks, we must defend.

Related Characters

Component: 工

Component: 攵

Example Words