弹
=
单
+
弓
:
Don Quixote (d) is preparing a bullet (弹) list in the anthill's bathroom (an4), but he took the term a little too literally. To create the bullet points on his list (单), he is trying to shoot bullets (弹) at the list using a composite bow (弓).
to pluck (a string) / to play (a string instrument) / to spring or leap / to shoot (e.g. with a catapult) / (of cotton) to fluff or tease / to flick / to flip / to accuse / to impeach / elastic (of materials)
弹
=
单
+
弓
:
Tecumseh (t) is giving a concert in the anthill's kitchen (an2). He is playing a composite bow (弓) with just a single string. As he is plucking (弹) the string (弹) of his bow, he often looks at the floor where he taped a list (单) of songs to play so that he doesn't forget which song is next.
guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither) / musical instrument in general
琴
=
今
+
玨
:
The Queen of Hearts (qi) is playing her guqin (琴) in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). She wants to play the music from 200 years ago, so she got a big calendar (今) which shows today's date 200 years ago. On the corresponding calendar page is an image of a 200 year old jewel necklace (玨) which inspires the Queen's music.
琴
=
今
+
玨
:
The Queen of Hearts (qi) is playing her guqin (琴) in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). She wants to play the music from 200 years ago, so she got a big calendar (今) which shows today's date 200 years ago. On the corresponding calendar page is an image of a 200 year old jewel necklace (玨) which inspires the Queen's music.
lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom) / fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience / to cast pearls before swine / caviar to the general / to preach to deaf ears / to talk over sb's head