How to Write 彀 (gòu) — Meaning “Full draw of a bow; range; scope”

Imagine a (弓) bow being pulled all the way back to create a tight (彀) scope. The left side is the bow, and the right side 殳 looks like a hand holding an arrow at full draw. Think of this image: "Bow fully drawn, ready to shoot within range."

The character has 13 strokes; start with the left radical 弓 (3 strokes) then write the right side 殳 (4 strokes) with the top part 几-like and bottom 又. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or unbalanced. Keep the left and right sides similar in height, and ensure the 弓 is narrow and slightly slanted to balance the right side.

While 强 (qiáng, strong) and 弹 (dàn, bullet; tán, flick) both contain the 弓 radical, 彀 specifically means the full draw of a bow or being within a trap/range. 强 emphasizes strength or forcing, 弹 focuses on shooting or an object. 彀 is rarely used alone but appears in classical idioms like 入彀 (to fall into a trap), whereas 强 and 弹 are common in modern Chinese.

彀 is almost never used alone in modern Mandarin; it appears in fixed expressions like 彀中 (within range/trap) and 入彀 (to be caught). Culturally, 入彀 comes from a Tang Dynasty story about Emperor Taizong using examinations to "trap" talented scholars into his service. This character is thus more literary and historical, not for everyday conversation.

Common words containing 彀 include: 彀中 (gòu zhōng) — Within range; in the trap; 入彀 (rù gòu) — to fall into a trap / to be taken in; 彀率 (gòu lǜ) — Probability (archaic).