矢

shǐ

大 + 𠂉

Definitions

shǐ (noun) arrow; dart

Etymology

Pictograph of an arrow.

About

矢 is a pictograph of an arrow, showing the arrowhead at the top, the shaft in the middle, and the fletching at the bottom. Its original meaning is "arrow" or "dart". An arrow's straight flight gave rise to extended meanings like straightforwardness, unwavering commitment, and making a solemn vow. As a radical, it appears in characters related to weapons, length measurement, or straightness. The form is now more stylized but still retains the linear shape of an arrow.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一个矢量图。

Zhè shì yī gè shǐliàng tú.

This is a vector image.

他射出了一支箭矢。

Tā shè chū le yī zhī jiàn shǐ.

He shot an arrow.

矢量在物理中很重要。

Shǐliàng zài wùlǐ zhōng hěn zhòngyào.

Vectors are important in physics.

他矢志要成为一名医生。

Tā shǐzhì yào chéngwéi yī míng yīshēng.

He is determined to become a doctor.

这支箭矢的速度非常快。

Zhè zhī jiàn shǐ de sùdù fēi cháng kuài.

The speed of this arrow is very fast.

我们需要计算这个矢量的大小。

Wǒmen xūyào jìsuàn zhège shǐliàng de dàxiǎo.

We need to calculate the magnitude of this vector.

古代战争中，矢石是常用的武器。

Gǔdài zhànzhēng zhōng, shǐ shí shì chángyòng de wǔqì.

In ancient warfare, arrows and stones were commonly used weapons.

在矢量分析中，我们经常处理矢量的微分和积分。

Zài shǐliàng fēnxī zhōng, wǒmen jīngcháng chǔlǐ shǐliàng de wēifēn hé jīfēn.

In vector analysis, we often deal with differentiation and integration of vectors.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 大

Component: 𠂉

Example Words