bullet · play

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 弾 has 12 strokes and the on-reading だん. 弾丸 (だんがん) means a bullet, while 弾く is read either ひく or はじく depending on the word.
• Basic usage: 弾く (ひく) means to play an instrument such as a piano or guitar; 弾く (はじく) means to repel water or flick an object such as a marble.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Two readings of 弾く
  • ピアノを弾いています and ギターを弾く use forms of ひく. Playing an instrument provides the context for choosing the reading.
  • 雨水をよく弾く and ビー玉を弾いて use forms of はじく. They describe a coat repelling rainwater and a finger flicking a marble, respectively.
  • 弾丸の跡 means a bullet mark. 弾丸 uses the on-reading だん rather than either verb reading.