矢
contributes the sense of an arrow — shooting · Kangxi radical 111
contributes the sense of an arrow — shooting, striking, and by extension measuring and short length
矢 began as a picture of a single arrow standing point-up: the top stroke is the head, the middle horizontal is the binding or fletching, and the lower strokes are the shaft and feathers. In the modern shape the head has flattened into the short top stroke and the shaft has split into the spreading legs, but the vertical balance of an upright arrow is still visible. As a component it points to arrows and shooting in 疾 (an illness striking like an arrow) and 族 (arrows gathered under a banner), and to arrow-based measuring in 矩, 短, and 矮.
矢 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of an arrow — shooting
- Strokes
- 5
- Characters
- 17
- Role
- Usually contributes meaning
- Kangxi radical
- 111
Characters with 矢 (16 of 17)
HSK 1 · 1
HSK 2 · 1
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 矢 mean?
矢 means "contributes the sense of an arrow — shooting". In the characters that contain it, it usually contributes meaning.
How many Chinese characters contain 矢?
17 characters in this dictionary contain 矢, including ones at HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4, HSK 5.
Is 矢 a radical?
Yes — 矢 is Kangxi radical 111, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 矢 have?
矢 is written in 5 strokes.