Definitions

qiāng (noun) gun; firearm; rifle
qiāng (noun) spear

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 枪 (traditional: 槍) combines the wood radical 木 on the left, indicating its original material, with the phonetic component 倉 on the right. It initially meant a long wooden spear or polearm used as a thrusting weapon in infantry combat. With the advent of firearms, the character’s meaning shifted to refer to guns like muskets, rifles, and handguns, any weapon that shoots projectiles.

Etymology Hide

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)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他有一把手

Tā yǒu yī bǎ shǒuqiāng.

He has a handgun.

警察带着

Jǐngchá dàizhe qiāng.

The police officer is carrying a gun.

声突然响了。

Qiāngshēng túrán xiǎng le.

The gunshot suddenly rang out.

士兵们装备了步

Shìbīngmen zhuāngbèi le bùqiāng.

The soldiers are equipped with rifles.

前必须瞄准目标。

Kāiqiāng qián bìxū miáozhǔn mùbiāo.

Before firing, you must aim at the target.

这把的射程很远。

Zhè bǎ qiāng de shèchéng hěn yuǎn.

The range of this gun is very far.

非法持是严重的罪行。

Fēifǎ chí qiāng shì yánzhòng de zuìxíng.

Illegal possession of guns is a serious crime.

为了防止意外走火,口必须始终指向安全方向。

Wèile fángzhǐ yìwài zǒuhuǒ, qiāngkǒu bìxū shǐzhí zhǐ xiàng ānquán fāngxiàng.

To prevent accidental discharge, the muzzle must always be pointed in a safe direction.