射 (shè)

old variant of 射[she4]

HSK 3.1 level 5
10 strokes

Etymology

Depicts a hand pulling back a bowstring with an arrow to shoot.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“，弓弩發於身而中於遠也。从矢，从身。射，篆文从寸。寸，法度也，亦手也。”

Components

◎ (iconic) — Depicts a bow and arrow. Originally composed of 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow). Later was written as unrelated 身 (body).
寸 (iconic) — Depicts a hand.