Definitions
Etymology
About
The character "彀" is structured with the radical "殳", denoting weapon-related actions, and the component "冓", which primarily serves a phonetic function, aligning with its early meaning of drawing a bow to its fullest extent. Etymologically, this archery-specific sense expanded to refer to the range or limit of a bow's shot, and later acquired metaphorical uses in classical contexts, such as in the term "入彀", where it implies a boundary or trap. While its form has remained consistent, the character's semantic trajectory moved from concrete military terminology to abstract literary applications.
Etymology Hide
