The kanji 弧 represents the concept of an "arc," "curve," or "bow." It describes a curved line segment, like a portion of a circle's circumference, or something that is arched. This kanji emphasizes the idea of a bending or curving shape rather than a straight line.

・On-yomi (音読み): コ (ko) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, but it is often used in compound words.

⚫︎円弧 Translation: Arc of a circle ⚫︎弧線 Translation: Curved line; arc ⚫︎抛物線（放物線） Translation: Parabola

The kanji 弧 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left side is the radical 弓 (kyū), which means "bow." The right side is 古 (ko), which provides the sound and also suggests the idea of something old and curved. The combination of 弓and 古 gives rise to the meaning of "arc" or "curve," like the shape of an old bow. The character illustrates the form of an arc and relates it to an older type of weapon known for its curved shape.