Bow Radical (弓)
gong
Explore 12 Chinese characters containing the Bow radical, with stroke order animations and meanings.
Characters with this radical usually relate to bow.
HSK Levels for Bow Radical (弓) Characters
3 of 12 characters appear in HSK vocabulary lists
+0Additional Strokes
1 character+1Additional Stroke
1 character+2Additional Strokes
2 characters+3Additional Strokes
1 character+4Additional Strokes
2 characters+5Additional Strokes
2 characters+6Additional Strokes
1 character+7Additional Strokes
1 character+9Additional Strokes
1 characterCommon Words with the Bow Radical (弓)
nervous; anxious
claim; assertionl; proposal
to exaggerate
flustered; confused; trepidation
look all around
weaken; cripple
weakness; weak point; failing
fragile; frail; tender
weak; frail
to weaken; to diminish
gripping / heart-stirring
Bow Radical (弓) FAQ
Common questions about the Bow radical and how to use it for learning Chinese characters.
What is the Bow radical (弓) in Chinese?
The Bow radical (弓) is one of the 214 Kangxi radicals used to classify Chinese characters. It has 3 strokes and appears in 12 characters in our database, including 张, 弱, 弦, 弓, 引. Characters containing this radical often relate to the concept of "bow."
How many Chinese characters use the 弓 radical?
There are 12 Chinese characters that use the Bow radical (弓) in our database. Of these, 3 characters are included in the HSK vocabulary lists, making them essential for Chinese learners.
How do I write the 弓 radical?
The Bow radical (弓) consists of 3 strokes. To practice writing characters with this radical, click on any character in the list above to see its complete stroke order animation.
How does the 弓 radical help me learn Chinese characters?
Knowing the Bow radical (弓) helps in three ways: (1) Dictionary lookup — you can find characters by radical and remaining stroke count, (2) Meaning clues — characters with 弓 often relate to "bow", helping you guess meanings of unfamiliar characters, (3) Memory aid — recognizing the radical as a building block makes it easier to remember and distinguish similar-looking characters.