Definitions

shǐ (noun) arrow; dart

Etymology

Pictograph of an arrow.

About

矢 originated as a pictograph of an arrow, depicting the arrowhead, shaft, and fletching. Its primary meaning is an arrow or dart used in archery and warfare. Metaphorically, the character came to signify straightforwardness and unwavering commitment, as an arrow flies straight to its target. It also serves as a radical in Chinese, appearing in characters related to weapons, measurements, or straightness. While its form has become more stylized over time, it retains the basic linear structure of the original weapon.

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

这是一个量图。

Zhè shì yī gè shǐliàng tú.

This is a vector image.

他射出了一支箭

Tā shè chū le yī zhī jiàn shǐ.

He shot an arrow.

量在物理中很重要。

Shǐliàng zài wùlǐ zhōng hěn zhòngyào.

Vectors are important in physics.

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,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.

量分析中,我们经常处理量的微分和积分。

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

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