<p>I would translate it the other way:「武器」is <em>weapons, weaponry</em>, while「兵器」is <em>weapons, arms</em>.</p>

<ul>
<li>「兵器」should be translated to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_weapon" rel="nofollow noreferrer">conventional weapons</a>, that is, weapons used in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_warfare" rel="nofollow noreferrer">conventional warfare</a> involving soldiers「兵」- polearms, swords, bows, trebuchets. Some definitions of「兵器」exclude gunpowder weapons.</li>
<li>「武器」is a all-encompassing broad term for any type of military「武」weapon, extended to mean <em>weapon</em> in general. Anything that cannot be categorised as「兵器」, like <em>demoralising propaganda</em> or <em>radar support system</em> or <em>nuclear missile</em> can be called「武器」.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-28T11:15:12.880Z
2019-04-28T11:21:52.473Z
2019-04-28T11:21:52.473Z
dROOOze
<p>answer available in online dictionaries, e.g. （excerpts from）bkrs, <strong>武器</strong>#1833：① [weapon; implements of warfare; military hardware; arms]直接用于杀伤敌人有生力量和破坏敌方作战设施的器械、装置，如刀、枪、火炮、导弹等。
<strong>②  [means]</strong>∶泛指进行斗争的工具：思想武器。常规武器 conventional weapons 化学武器  细菌武器  放下武器  核武器  轻武器 small arms 拿起武器 </p>

<p><strong>兵器</strong> #10265[weapons; arms;armament] 军事斗争中包含有各种杀伤力、 破坏力的器械装置 兵器消毒(desactivation) 奇型兵器 (rare form) 远战兵器 中国古代兵器 兵器库 (weapon depot),more at bkrs</p>

<p>google＂武器＂跟＂兵器＂有什么不同-> e.g.<a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/2052465331002155467.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/2052465331002155467.html</a>  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-28T17:26:26.763Z
2019-04-28T17:26:26.763Z
user6065
<p>武器 can sometimes be used figuratively, 兵器 cannot. When they mean 'weapons' they are interchangeable.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T23:53:40.343Z
Please give some examples.
zyy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T23:32:21.857Z
2019-04-30T23:32:21.857Z
Li Xinghe
<p>As a Chinese I think No difference!
Only when to make combination, like 杀伤性武器，制式兵器 etc.
To get used to these combinations, read a lot.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-05T20:06:55.877Z
Come on, have some curiosity. If two similar terms are not wrote the same, there must be reason behind it.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T00:09:06.470Z
2019-04-30T00:09:06.470Z
S.Gu
<blockquote>
<p>兵 (military)</p>
<p>兵器 (tool for military) = weapons; weaponry</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>武 (force)</p>
<p>武器 (tool for force) = weapons; arms</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Both 兵器 and 武器 means weapons. The difference is 兵器 is more specifically referring to weapon for warfare, while 武器 is a more general term for all weapons</p>
<ul>
<li><p>冷兵器 (cold weapons) that are commonly used by soldiers like 刀、劍、長槍、弓箭 、狼牙棒 (Knife, sword, lance, bow and arrow, mace) can all be called 兵器 or 武器.</p>
</li>
<li><p>現代兵器 (modern weapons) like 衝鋒槍、坦克、導彈 (sub-machine gun, tank, guided missile) are all 兵器/ 武器 too</p>
</li>
<li><p>On the other hand, anything that can be used for attack can be qualified as 武器. For example, 剪刀、石塊、摺椅、菜刀 (scissors, stones, folding chairs, kitchen knives) can all be 武器, but no one would call them 兵器 because those items were not commonly used in war</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><em>The term 武器 can be used metaphorically, for example: 用言語作为武器 (use words as weapon), but we don't use 兵器 this way</em></p>
<p>Something that can be called 兵器 can also be called 武器; something that can be used as 武器 but isn't commonly used in war cannot be called 兵器</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-28T11:16:14.677Z
2019-04-28T11:43:12.360Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>According to the dictionary, 兵器 = weapons, weaponry while 武器 = weapons, arms. It sounds like they are synonyms to me so I was wondering if those two words are synonyms or do they have some difference in meaning? If they are different can you guys provide some sample sentences for illustration? Thanks! </p>

<meaning><usage><difference>
What's the difference between 兵器 and 武器?
# What's the difference between 兵器 and 武器?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-28)

According to the dictionary, 兵器 = weapons, weaponry while 武器 = weapons, arms. It sounds like they are synonyms to me so I was wondering if those two words are synonyms or do they have some difference in meaning? If they are different can you guys provide some sample sentences for illustration? Thanks!

**Tags:** meaning, usage, difference

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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2019-04-28. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

> 兵 (military)
>
> 兵器 (tool for military) = weapons; weaponry

~

> 武 (force)
>
> 武器 (tool for force) = weapons; arms

Both 兵器 and 武器 means weapons. The difference is 兵器 is more specifically referring to weapon for warfare, while 武器 is a more general term for all weapons

* 冷兵器 (cold weapons) that are commonly used by soldiers like 刀、劍、長槍、弓箭 、狼牙棒 (Knife, sword, lance, bow and arrow, mace) can all be called 兵器 or 武器.
* 現代兵器 (modern weapons) like 衝鋒槍、坦克、導彈 (sub-machine gun, tank, guided missile) are all 兵器/ 武器 too
* On the other hand, anything that can be used for attack can be qualified as 武器. For example, 剪刀、石塊、摺椅、菜刀 (scissors, stones, folding chairs, kitchen knives) can all be 武器, but no one would call them 兵器 because those items were not commonly used in war

*The term 武器 can be used metaphorically, for example: 用言語作为武器 (use words as weapon), but we don't use 兵器 this way*

Something that can be called 兵器 can also be called 武器; something that can be used as 武器 but isn't commonly used in war cannot be called 兵器


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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-04-28. Score: 4

I would translate it the other way:「武器」is *weapons, weaponry*, while「兵器」is *weapons, arms*.

* 「兵器」should be translated to [conventional weapons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_weapon), that is, weapons used in [conventional warfare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_warfare) involving soldiers「兵」- polearms, swords, bows, trebuchets. Some definitions of「兵器」exclude gunpowder weapons.
* 「武器」is a all-encompassing broad term for any type of military「武」weapon, extended to mean *weapon* in general. Anything that cannot be categorised as「兵器」, like *demoralising propaganda* or *radar support system* or *nuclear missile* can be called「武器」.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-04-28. Score: 2

answer available in online dictionaries, e.g. （excerpts from）bkrs, **武器**#1833：① [weapon; implements of warfare; military hardware; arms]直接用于杀伤敌人有生力量和破坏敌方作战设施的器械、装置，如刀、枪、火炮、导弹等。
**② [means]**∶泛指进行斗争的工具：思想武器。常规武器 conventional weapons 化学武器 细菌武器 放下武器 核武器 轻武器 small arms 拿起武器

**兵器** #10265[weapons; arms;armament] 军事斗争中包含有各种杀伤力、 破坏力的器械装置 兵器消毒(desactivation) 奇型兵器 (rare form) 远战兵器 中国古代兵器 兵器库 (weapon depot),more at bkrs

google＂武器＂跟＂兵器＂有什么不同-> e.g.<https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/2052465331002155467.html>


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-04-30. Score: 0

武器 can sometimes be used figuratively, 兵器 cannot. When they mean 'weapons' they are interchangeable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Please give some examples.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2019-04-30. Score: 0

As a Chinese I think No difference!
Only when to make combination, like 杀伤性武器，制式兵器 etc.
To get used to these combinations, read a lot.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Come on, have some curiosity. If two similar terms are not wrote the same, there must be reason behind it.  

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