弛

chí

也 + 弓

Definitions

chí to unstring a bow; to slacken; to relax; to loosen

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 弓 represents the meaning and 也 represents the sound.

Semantic: 弓 Phonetic: 也

About

弛 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic radical 弓 (gōng, bow) on the left and the phonetic component 也 (yě) on the right. Its original meaning refers to unstringing a bow or loosening a bowstring, standing in direct opposition to 张 (zhāng, to draw a bow). From this specific martial context, the meaning broadened to encompass general concepts of slackening, relaxing, or loosening control. Consequently, it is commonly used in modern vocabulary related to easing tension, relaxing rules, or a state of laxity.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条绳子有点松弛。

Zhè tiáo shéngzi yǒudiǎn sōngchí.

This rope is a bit loose.

学习时不能精神松弛。

Xuéxí shí bùnéng jīngshén sōngchí.

One must not be mentally slack when studying.

经过按摩，肌肉松弛了。

Jīngguò ànmó, jīròu sōngchí le.

After the massage, the muscles relaxed.

政府决定弛禁某些规定。

Zhèngfǔ juédìng chíjìn mǒuxiē guīdìng.

The government decided to lift certain regulations.

在假期里，我们可以弛缓一下。

Zài jiàqī lǐ, wǒmen kěyǐ chíhuǎn yīxià.

During the holiday, we can relax a bit.

长期紧张后需要适度松弛。

Chángqī jǐnzhāng hòu xūyào shìdù sōngchí.

After prolonged tension, moderate relaxation is needed.

他的态度从严谨逐渐弛懈。

Tā de tàidù cóng yánjǐn zhújiàn chíxiè.

His attitude gradually slackened from being rigorous.

经济政策的松弛导致了通货膨胀。

Jīngjì zhèngcè de sōngchí dǎozhìle tōnghuò péngzhàng.

The loosening of economic policy led to inflation.

Related Characters

Component: 也

Component: 弓

弛