矢 (shǐ) - Arrow & to vow

矢Tone 3

shǐ ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 矢

上姝

矢 · shǐ

Arrow;

to vow;

to swear;

straight;

direct.

Arrowto vowto swear

Usage highlights

ArrowVowDirect speechBow and arrowTargetArrow shaft

Synonyms

  • 箭— arrow (more common modern term)
  • 誓— vow, oath
  • 直— straight, direct

Antonyms

  • 曲— curved, bent
  • 弯— bent, curved

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Ancient warriors used bows and arrows (弓箭和矢).
  • He made a solemn vow (发誓).
  • Please speak directly (请直言).
  • The arrow flew straight to the target (矢中靶心).

Collocations

  • Arrow(矢)
  • Vow(矢言)
  • Direct speech(直言)
  • Bow and arrow(弓矢)
  • Target(矢的)
  • Arrow shaft(矢杆)

Idioms

  • Swear to the death(矢死不渝)
  • Vow to be loyal(矢忠不二)
  • As straight as an arrow(矢直)
  • A vow of chastity(矢志不嫁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the oldest weapons in Chinese history, dating back to prehistoric times.
  • Used metaphorically for straightness and directness in speech and character.
  • Appears in many classical texts as both literal weapon and metaphorical concept.

FAQ