TSUMUGU · · 字
射
ㄕㄜˋ · shè
verb — to shoot; to emit
字源 FORM — what the parts do
身空a standing body seen from the side, belly emphasized — the bodythe “body” reading is a look-alike; the original picture was the bow
Early forms drew a bow with an arrow on the string; centuries of copying wore the bow into the look-alike 身 “body.”
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
一個「身」體側過來，一「寸」一寸把弦拉滿——咻！
A body leans into the bow. Inch by inch (寸), the string comes back — 咻, the arrow is gone.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)射箭— to shoot (a bow)常用
→噴射、放射— to spray, emit, radiate
⇒影射— to insinuate; to allude (shooting at someone, with words)
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
例 · Examples
1他射箭射得很準zhǔn — accurate。射箭
He shoots arrows with great accuracy.
2太陽光射進房間裡。
Sunlight shoots into the room.
3噴泉pēnquán — fountain把水射到空中。
The fountain shoots water into the air.
4他射門得分了！
He shot — and scored!
5這部電影影射了很多社會問題。影射
The film alludes to many social issues.
Underlined 射 is this entry; dotted words carry a gloss — hold ⇧ Shift and hover, or tap.
關 · Related
演 · Evolution
甲骨文直接畫弓和箭；金文加上一隻手；小篆把走樣固定成身。
Oracle-bone forms draw the bow and arrow; bronze adds the hand; the seal script locks the drift toward 身.