矢

It is a pictograph representing the arrowhead, shaft, and feathers of an arrow.

The meaning of 矢 has expanded to include arrows used in throwing games (like 투호), the act of displaying or arranging, making a solemn oath, and even a euphemistic meaning for feces (excrement). The latter meaning arose because 矢 was used as a phono-semantic loan character for "feces." Historical texts from the Warring States period show 矢 used with this meaning. Later, the character 屎 (meaning feces) was created with the same pronunciation, and 屎 gradually replaced 矢 as a euphemistic form. Both 矢 and 屎 are pronounced shǐ with the same tone in standard Mandarin.

Regarding arrows, 矢 usually refers to wooden arrows, while 箭 refers to bamboo arrows. In modern usage, 箭 is far more common when referring to arrows, and 矢 mostly appears in advanced HSK vocabulary. This provides a comprehensive view of 矢’s form, meaning, and usage distinctions.

When used as a radical, it generally conveys meanings related to arrows. Additionally, since arrows were historically used as units of measurement for length, it can also imply meanings related to length or correction/adjustment.

Visually, 矢 is similar to the character 失 (lose), but 失 depicts something slipping out of a hand. To distinguish, the 4th stroke of 矢 starts from the 2nd stroke, while in 失, the 4th stroke cuts through the 2nd stroke—similar to the distinction between 午 (noon) and 牛 (cow).