bow

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 弓 has 3 strokes, the on-reading きゅう, and the kun-reading ゆみ. The reading changes between 弓 (ゆみ), a bow, and 弓道 (きゅうどう), Japanese archery.
• Basic usage: 弓 names the bow as an object; 弓道 names the martial art of Japanese archery.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A bow and Japanese archery
  • 古い弓と矢 means old bows and arrows. 弓 also names a physical object in the example where someone carries 木で作った弓, a wooden bow, on their back.
  • 弓道を習い始めた means began learning Japanese archery. 弓道の大会 means an archery competition.