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梏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
handcuffs, manacles; fettersg, 11 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
braces (med.)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
(gu4) T4
  1. 1handcuffs, manacles; fetters
  2. 2braces (med.)
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March 24, 2026
(gu4)

The character 梏 (gù) refers to handcuffs or manacles, typically used to restrain a person's hands. It can also denote fetters that bind the feet or other forms of confinement. This term is often used in legal or historical contexts regarding imprisonment or captivity.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, fetters were commonly used as a punishment for criminals, and the visual and literal implications of being bound are often explored in literature and folk tales. This reflects the traditional views on justice and punishment in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of handcuffs that look like a 'g' clasping two hands together. The radical 木 (wood) suggests strength and the idea of being bound, while the 'g' sound can remind you of 'gripping' or holding tightly.

Meanings of 梏

(gu4)
1handcuffs, manacles; fetters
2braces (med.)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 梏

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 梏

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 梏

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a pair of handcuffs that look like a 'g' clasping two hands together. The radical 木 (wood) suggests strength and the idea of being bound, while the 'g' sound can remind you of 'gripping' or holding tightly.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 梏 with similar characters that relate to binding or restraint, such as 缚 (fù). This term is generally used in more formal contexts, particularly in legal discussions or historical texts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 梏 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to law and order, such as 监狱 (jiānyù, prison) and 拘留 (jūliú, detention). Focus on remembering its usage in contexts involving imprisonment.

Cultural Note

In Chinese history, fetters were commonly used as a punishment for criminals, and the visual and literal implications of being bound are often explored in literature and folk tales. This reflects the traditional views on justice and punishment in Chinese society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 梏 (gù) with other characters related to binding, such as 拘 (jū), which means to detain but does not imply physical restraints. Be sure to use 梏 when specifically discussing handcuffs or fetters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 梏

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Etymology of 梏

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 梏?

Decomposition of 梏

IDS Structure⿰木告
Full Character
=
Mu4
left
gao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 梏?

Write 梏

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 梏

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese history, fetters were commonly used as a punishment for criminals, and the visual and literal implications of being bound are often explored in literature and folk tales. This reflects the traditional views on justice and punishment in Chinese society.

Word Family of 梏

Words Containing This Character2
桎梏shackles
fetters
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 桎梏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 梏

梏 specifically refers to physical restraints like handcuffs, while 拘留 means to detain someone legally without necessarily implying physical restraint.