射箭 (shè jiàn) literally means 'to shoot arrows' and functions as a noun meaning 'archery'—the traditional sport or skill of using a bow to propel arrows toward a target. The character 射 (shè) means 'to shoot' or 'to fire', while 箭 (jiàn) means 'arrow'; together, they form a compound noun denoting the activity itself, not the action in progress (which would require a verb construction like '在射箭').

This term is commonly used in contexts related to sports, traditional Chinese culture, martial arts history, and Olympic events. It appears in phrases like 射箭比赛 (archery competition), 射箭场 (archery range), or 射箭运动员 (archery athlete). Though historically linked to hunting and warfare, modern usage almost always refers to the regulated sport or recreational activity—not literal combat or hunting with bows.