開弓不放箭 kāi gōng bù fàng jiàn

lit. to draw the bow without shooting the arrow (idiom)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. to draw the bow without shooting the arrow (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. to bluff
  3. 3. to be all talk and no action
  4. 4. false bravado

Characters

Character Meaning
開 kāi
to open; to turn on; to start
弓 gōng
a bow (weapon); to bend; to arch (one's back etc)
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
放 fàng HSK 3
to put; to place; to release
箭 jiàn HSK 6
arrow