戈

gē

halberd, dagger-axe; war or armed conflict.

Meaning

  • Concrete: A polearm with a blade mounted perpendicularly or at an angle to the shaft (dagger-axe). Used for hacking, chopping, and hooking.
  • Abstract: A metonym for war, military aggression, or armed conflict (e.g., 兵戈).

Grammar and usage

  • Predominantly a noun. When appearing in a verbal position, it is likely an elliptical construction where the action verb (e.g., "to brandish" or "to wield") is implied.

Distinctions

  • Contrast with 矛 (máo): In early texts, these are technically distinct; the 戈 is for hacking and hooking, while the 矛 is designed for thrusting/piercing. This distinction informs the nature of the action in combat descriptions.

Graphical notes

  • Radical 62; serves as the semantic anchor for a range of characters associated with conflict, cutting, and aggression.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.