子弹

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 子弹 (zǐdàn) specifically refers to a bullet, the projectile fired from a gun. It is a concrete noun used in contexts related to firearms, shooting, and sometimes metaphorically to describe narrowly avoiding danger.

Common Collocations

  • 子弹 (zǐdàn ké): bullet casing, often mentioned in crime or police reports.
  • 发射子弹 (fāshè zǐdàn): to fire bullets, used when describing gun actions.
  • 子弹 (duǒguò zǐdàn): literally 'dodge a bullet,' used both literally and figuratively.

Usage Notes

子弹 is a formal and standard term for bullet. It is not used metaphorically to mean 'a small amount' or 'a piece' as some other words might be. When talking about ammunition, 子弹 always refers to the projectile itself, not the entire cartridge or gunpowder.

Common Confusion

Sometimes learners confuse 子弹 with (dànyào), which means ammunition in general, including bullets, cartridges, and gunpowder. 子弹 is more specific and only means the bullet itself.

Register and Tone

子弹 is neutral in tone and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts involving firearms or related discussions.

Example Sentences

The police found several bullet casings at the scene.

This gun can fire various types of bullets.

He dodged the bullet in the movie.