射
shè · HSK 5
loose
🏹 射 = 身 (body) + 寸 (inch) — archer's body and measured aim
Originally depicted a hand drawing a bow with arrow; later stylised as 身 + 寸. The core sense is shooting or discharging — arrows, light, liquid jets, or even insinuating remarks.
射 — body 身 + inch/hand 寸
Originally a pictograph of a hand drawing a bow with an arrow. The ancient form showed 弓 (bow) plus 矢 (arrow) or a hand. Over time it was reshaped into 身 (body) plus 寸 (hand/measure), and the meaning 'to shoot' was extended to 'emit' or 'project'.