筌 (quán) - A bamboo fish trap & a device or means for catching fish

筌Tone 2

quán ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

情仁

筌 · quán

A bamboo fish trap;

a device or means for catching fish;

by extension, a method or tool for achieving a goal.

A bamboo fish trapa device or means for catching fishby extension, a method or tool for achieving

Usage highlights

Bamboo fish trapTrap and snareForgetting the trap after catching the fishFishing basketFishing gear

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The fisherman set bamboo traps (鱼筌) in the river.
  • This technique is merely a means to an end (得鱼忘筌 - forgetting the trap after catching the fish).
  • Ancient Chinese used various fishing weirs and traps (筌蹄).

Collocations

  • Bamboo fish trap(鱼筌)
  • Trap and snare(筌蹄)
  • Forgetting the trap after catching the fish(得鱼忘筌)
  • Fishing basket(筌箵)
  • Fishing gear(渔筌)

Idioms

  • Forget the trap once the fish is caught(得鱼忘筌)
  • The means justify the end(筌者所以在鱼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Derived from ancient Chinese fishing practices using bamboo traps.
  • In Daoist philosophy, represents the idea that tools/methods should be discarded once their purpose is served.
  • Appears in Zhuangzi's writings as a metaphor for forgetting words once meaning is grasped.

FAQ