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鐐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鐐liàofetters, leg-ironszg, 20 strokes, radical 釒
liào(liao4) T4
  1. 1fetters, leg-irons
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鐐liào(liao4)

The character 鐐 (liào) refers to fetters or leg-irons, which are devices used to restrain someone's movement, particularly on the legs. This term often appears in historical contexts related to imprisonment or punishment, emphasizing the physical constraints imposed on individuals.

Strokes20Radical釒
Cultural Note

The concept of 鐐 is tied to historical practices of punishment in ancient China, where physical restraints were commonly used in legal systems. This reflects the cultural attitude toward law and order in historical Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a heavy iron chain wrapping around someone's legs, making it difficult to walk. The character 鐐 has the radical '金' (metal) on the left, indicating its connection to iron, while the right part resembles legs being bound together, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 鐐

liào(liao4)
1fetters, leg-irons
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鐐

鐐Simplified
20Strokes
釒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鐐

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Podcast: 鐐

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AI Study Notes for 鐐

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 鐐 in informal contexts, as it is more commonly found in literary or historical discussions. Common collocations include '鐐銬' (liàokào), meaning 'handcuffs', which reinforces its association with restraint. Ensure correct pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鐐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of historical texts in Chinese literature. Focus on the context in which it appears, especially in discussions surrounding justice and punishment, to deepen comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鐐 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. For instance, misusing it for '脚' (jiǎo, meaning 'foot') can lead to confusion. Always remember that 鐐 specifically refers to restraints.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鐐

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Etymology of 鐐

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 尞 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鐐.

Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)尞
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鐐

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 尞 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鐐.

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half尞 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鐐? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鐐?

Decomposition of 鐐

IDS Structure⿰釒尞
鐐Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
尞liao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鐐?

How to say fetters, leg-irons in Chinese

“fetters, leg-irons” in Chinese is鐐liào

The character 鐐 (liào) refers to fetters or leg-irons, which are devices used to restrain someone's movement, particularly on the legs. This term often appears in historical contexts related to imprisonment or punishment, emphasizing the physical constraints imposed on individuals.

When to use 鐐

Be cautious of using 鐐 in informal contexts, as it is more commonly found in literary or historical discussions. Common collocations include '鐐銬' (liàokào), meaning 'handcuffs', which reinforces its association with restraint. Ensure correct pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鐐 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. For instance, misusing it for '脚' (jiǎo, meaning 'foot') can lead to confusion. Always remember that 鐐 specifically refers to restraints.

Write 鐐

鐐

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鐐

Words Containing This Character3
镣铐manacles and leg-irons鐐銬
脚镣fetters腳鐐
镣liàofetters鐐
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 镣铐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鐐

In modern usage, 鐐 primarily retains its meaning related to fetters or leg-irons, often in historical or literary contexts.

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