弦 xián — bowstring; string · English

弦

xián

bowstring; string

At a glance · 弦

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从弓，玄声，本义为弓上的弦。形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为弓弦，引申为琴弦。

Structure

形声字，从弓（意符），玄（xuán）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinxián

Radical弓

Strokes8

UnicodeU+5F26

Character type形声

Theme器物

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English bowstring; string A bowstring; also a musical string.

Français corde La corde d’un arc ; aussi corde de musique.

Español cuerda La cuerda de un arco ; también cuerda musical.

العربية وتد القوس؛ وتر وتد القوس؛ ويُستعار لوتر الموسيقى.

Русский тетива; струна Тетива лука; также музыкальная струна.

Common words

弦xiánstring
琴弦qín xiánstring

◉ Listen