Skip to content
Kotomora

弓

bow, bow (archery, violin)

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes3

Readings

On'yomi

  • キュウ

Kun'yomi

  • ゆみ

Nanori

  • こ
  • ゆ

Meaning

弓 centers on a bow: the curved weapon used in archery, and by extension the bow of a violin or similar stringed instrument.

Most common words using 弓

20 of 78
  • 弓ゆみ
    N1

    bow (weapon)

  • 弓道きゅうどう

    kyudo; Japanese archery

  • 弓矢ゆみや

    bow and arrow

  • 真弓まゆみ

    Japanese spindle tree (Euonymus sieboldianus)

  • 弓術きゅうじゅつ

    (Japanese) archery

  • 弓弦ゆみづる

    bowstring

  • 弓場ゆば

    archery ground; archery gallery

  • 洋弓ようきゅう

    (Western) archery

  • 上げ弓あげゆみ

    up-bow (technique used when playing a string instrument)

  • 下げ弓さげゆみ

    down-bow (technique used when playing a string instrument)

  • 傷弓の鳥しょうきゅうのとり

    (person who is) once bitten twice shy; someone who has become overly cautious due to a bad experience

  • 内臓弓ないぞうきゅう

    visceral arch

  • 半弓はんきゅう

    small bow

  • 単弓綱たんきゅうこう

    Synapsida (class of amniotes)

  • 単弓類たんきゅうるい

    synapsids; theropsids

  • 双弓亜綱そうきゅうあこう

    Diapsida (class of amniotes)

  • 双弓類そうきゅうるい

    diapsids

  • 和弓わきゅう

    yumi; Japanese-style bow

  • 咽頭弓いんとうきゅう

    pharyngeal arch

  • 大弓だいきゅう

    bow; longbow

Explore all words using 弓 →

Study

Etymology

弓 is a pictograph of a bow, with the three strokes representing the curved body and the string.

Meaning mnemonic

The long vertical stroke with a hook is the bow's body, and the short diagonal stroke is the string. Together they form a bow ready to shoot.

Reading mnemonic

For キュウ, imagine a bow that makes a high-pitched 'kyuu' sound when the string is released: kyuu -> キュウ.