<ul>
<li><code>射击</code> is "shooting".</li>
<li><code>开枪</code> is "to pull the trigger (on a gun)".</li>
</ul>

<p>So a shooting sport would be called <code>射击運動</code>, and cover fire is called <code>掩護射击</code>.</p>

<ul>
<li><code>击中</code> means "hitting".</li>
<li><code>射中</code> means "hitting with a flying object".</li>
</ul>

<p>It works with a self-propelled missile/artillery shell/arrows etc too.</p>

<p>The <code>中</code> is there to to contribute the meaning of a "hit" to the terms. <code>射</code> without <code>中</code> is only "shooting"; with <code>中</code> it becomes "shooting <em>and hitting</em>"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-12T05:15:52.707Z
thank you so much, that helps a lot, especially the first 2 words. About the last two if you don't mind, would 射中 then be used more for arrows and long range missiles and 击中 seems to be more the direct hit of a bomb or handgun?
user5763
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-12T05:22:34.683Z
Not really; 射中 basically works with anything you shoot. 擊中 doesn't have to be about missile objects; it just means a hit. You can use it for a fist, for instance.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-12T05:26:25.547Z
I see, I notice it being used for soccer shots too now, ty
user5763
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-23T05:01:16.983Z
中(zhong4) in 击中 and 射中 is the key meaning, hitting or goal, of the words. 击 and 射 just emphasize how to archive the target.
thinwa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-23T05:15:17.883Z
@user2550062 That's basically what I said already, except 击 and 射  does not "emphasize" in any meaningful sense of the word. They provide additional info.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T22:07:58.057Z
开枪 is more like "fire".
lznt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-12T05:05:22.507Z
2014-06-12T05:05:22.507Z
Semaphore
<p>The verb <em>shoot</em> appears often in Chinese international news. But I am unclear about the different words for it.</p>

<p>射击 and 开枪 seem to be the firing of a gun and 击中，射中 hitting with a weapon, but could someone clarify the difference?</p>

<p>My dictionary says "hit with missile". Can any of these words be used for a rocket / missile attack too or are they only applicable to handguns and sporting guns?</p>

<p>I also wonder why the word 中 is part of these words in the context of shooting.</p>

<p>Thank you very much.</p>

<difference><verbs>
verb. "to shoot" (weapon): difference between 射击，开枪， 击中， 射中
# verb. "to shoot" (weapon): difference between 射击，开枪， 击中， 射中

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-12)

The verb *shoot* appears often in Chinese international news. But I am unclear about the different words for it.

射击 and 开枪 seem to be the firing of a gun and 击中，射中 hitting with a weapon, but could someone clarify the difference?

My dictionary says "hit with missile". Can any of these words be used for a rocket / missile attack too or are they only applicable to handguns and sporting guns?

I also wonder why the word 中 is part of these words in the context of shooting.

Thank you very much.

**Tags:** difference, verbs


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-12. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

* `射击` is "shooting".
* `开枪` is "to pull the trigger (on a gun)".

So a shooting sport would be called `射击運動`, and cover fire is called `掩護射击`.

* `击中` means "hitting".
* `射中` means "hitting with a flying object".

It works with a self-propelled missile/artillery shell/arrows etc too.

The `中` is there to to contribute the meaning of a "hit" to the terms. `射` without `中` is only "shooting"; with `中` it becomes "shooting *and hitting*"

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thank you so much, that helps a lot, especially the first 2 words. About the last two if you don't mind, would 射中 then be used more for arrows and long range missiles and 击中 seems to be more the direct hit of a bomb or handgun?  
> **username_1**: Not really; 射中 basically works with anything you shoot. 擊中 doesn't have to be about missile objects; it just means a hit. You can use it for a fist, for instance.  
> **username_0**: I see, I notice it being used for soccer shots too now, ty  
> **username_2**: 中(zhong4) in 击中 and 射中 is the key meaning, hitting or goal, of the words. 击 and 射 just emphasize how to archive the target.  
> **username_1**: @user2550062 That's basically what I said already, except 击 and 射  does not "emphasize" in any meaningful sense of the word. They provide additional info.  
> **username_3**: 开枪 is more like "fire".  

---

