đao cung

Một võ sĩ cầm đao cung trong tư thế sẵn sàng.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of ancient bow: A traditional bow, often with a distinctive curved or recurved shape, historically used in warfare or hunting in East Asia, particularly associated with Vietnam and China.
   • Archery equipment: Refers specifically to the bow (cung) and the saber (đao) as a paired set of traditional weapons, symbolizing martial skill.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bảo tàng trưng bày một thanh đao cung cổ. (The museum displays an ancient đao cung.)
  • Kỹ thuật sử dụng đao cung đòi hỏi nhiều năm luyện tập. (The technique of using the đao cung requires many years of practice.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is considered archaic in modern Vietnamese. In historical or classical texts, it can refer to the general concept of traditional weapons or martial arts weaponry.
• It may sometimes be seen in the reversed form "cung đao" with the same meaning, emphasizing the pair of bow and blade.

Variants and Related Words

• Cung (n): bow (for archery).
• Đao (n): saber, broadsword (a single-edged curved blade).
• Cung tên (n): bow and arrow.

Synonyms

• Traditional bow: A hand-drawn bow of historical design.
• Saber and bow: A paired set of bladed and archery weapons.

Notes on Usage

• "Đao cung" is a historical term. In contemporary language, the separate words "cung" (bow) and "đao" (saber) are used independently to refer to these items.
• It primarily appears in historical, literary, or martial arts contexts rather than in everyday conversation.