兵 (bīng)

soldiers; a force; an army; weapons; arms; military; warlike; CL:個|个[g

HSK 3.1 level 4
7 strokes

Etymology

Pictograph of two hands (廾) holding a weapon.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“，械也。从廾持斤，并力之皃。，古文兵从人、廾、干。兵，籀文。”

Components

斤 (iconic) — Depicts a weapon.
廾 (iconic) — Depicts two hands.