Definitions
(noun)
military; weapons; warfare
(noun)
military affairs
Etymology
Pictograph of an axe, similar to 戈.
About
The character 戎 initially represented weapons or warfare, with its structure combining 戈, denoting a dagger-axe or general weapon, and 十, commonly understood as a stylized shield, to visually convey martial implements. Its meaning broadened from physical armaments to encompass military affairs and soldiers, reflecting its foundational association with combat. Subsequently, the term was adopted to refer collectively to nomadic peoples inhabiting the western borders of ancient China, a semantic extension that emerged from chronicles describing these groups as wielders of such weapons and participants in protracted conflicts. This progression from denoting tools of war to labeling ethnic entities underscores how the character's function shifted alongside historical and cultural narratives.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他穿着戎装很威武。
爷爷戎马生涯几十年。
两国兵戎相见多年。
将军善于把握戎机。
他投身戎行保家卫国。
阅兵式上士兵戎装整齐。
历史书中记载了许多兵戎冲突。
和平时期仍不忘戎事训练。