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Can you read this?


nathan b

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Hi,

Well, I am sure it is 弹, which does mean to play an instrument like guitar or piano not violin. However, as a single character, like single word "make" in English, it does not have one single and simple meaning.

As a verb, it may also mean to shoot [pebbles (as with a catapult)], or to flick or flip (ash), or accuse/impeach.

It also means be elastic; spring/bounce/leap; and even shed (tears).

As a noun, it could mean ball or bullet.

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  • 11 months later...

弓 meaning "bow" as in "bow and arrow", belong together with the partial character, it's function is: "you pluck an instrument like you are plucking the string on a bow". Use some imagination, and you will get the original meaning to most Chinese characters. Now, without the bow, you can never play the instrument: like a guitar or violin[my use of these instruments illustrates the "plucking on a bow string" concept similarly employed while playing/ learning to play these instruments]!

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