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March 24, 2026
囚qiú(qiu2)
The character 囚 (qiú) primarily means 'prisoner' or 'convict'. It denotes someone who is confined, typically in a legal context. This term can also imply the act of confining someone, making it relevant in discussions about imprisonment and justice.
Strokes5Radical囗Frequency#13056DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of imprisonment is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing social order and moral conduct. The historical context of prisons in China reflects societal views on rehabilitation versus punishment.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'prisoner' trapped inside a 'house' (囗) with a 'person' (亻) on the inside. The shape of the character suggests confinement, as if the person is enclosed. The pronunciation 'qiú' can be remembered by associating it with 'cue' — a cue for a prisoner to follow rules.
Meanings of 囚
qiú(qiu2)
1prisoner, convict; to confine
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 囚
囚Simplified
5Strokes
囗Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 囚
Podcast: 囚
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AI Study Notes for 囚
Quick Contrast
囚 (prisoner) vs 罪犯 (criminal) — use 囚 when specifically referring to someone imprisoned, while 罪犯 emphasizes the act of committing a crime.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'prisoner' trapped inside a 'house' (囗) with a 'person' (亻) on the inside. The shape of the character suggests confinement, as if the person is enclosed. The pronunciation 'qiú' can be remembered by associating it with 'cue' — a cue for a prisoner to follow rules.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'qiú' is pronounced with a rising tone. It's typically used in formal contexts related to law and justice, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '囚犯' (qiúfàn) meaning 'prisoner' and '监狱囚' (jiānyù qiú) meaning 'inmate'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 囚 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other words about law and order, such as 监狱 (jiānyù - prison) and 犯罪 (fànzuì - crime). Students should focus on the context of usage in legal discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of imprisonment is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing social order and moral conduct. The historical context of prisons in China reflects societal views on rehabilitation versus punishment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 囚 with similar characters like 拘 (jū - to detain). For example, saying '我被拘' (Wǒ bèi jū - I am detained) instead of '我被囚' (Wǒ bèi qiú - I am imprisoned) can lead to misunderstanding. Remember, 囚 specifically refers to a prisoner.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 囚
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Grammar Patterns of 囚
囚 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____犯撒野闹事，砸毁了所有挡路的东西。
The prisoners went on the rampage destroying everything in their way.
Example Sentences for 囚 (10)
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1
囚犯撒野闹事，砸毁了所有挡路的东西。
qiú fàn sā yě nào shì， ， zá huǐ le suǒ yǒu dǎng lù de dōng。
The prisoners went on the rampage destroying everything in their way.
2
他根据被俘囚犯提供的证据得出了这个结论。
tā gēn jù bèi fú qiú fàn tí gōng de zhèng jù dé chū le zhè gè jié lùn。
He based his conclusions on the evidence given by the captured prisoners.
I don't have to stay in my room penned up like a prisoner.
Cultural Notes for 囚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of imprisonment is often tied to Confucian values, emphasizing social order and moral conduct. The historical context of prisons in China reflects societal views on rehabilitation versus punishment.
Word Family of 囚
Words Containing This Character8
囚犯qiúfànprisoner
囚qiúprisoner
囚禁to imprison
囚徒prisoner
死囚someone on death row
囚笼cage used to hold or transport prisoners囚籠
系囚prisoner繫囚
拘囚to imprison
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 囚犯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 囚
囚 refers to a prisoner or convict, while 监狱 means prison or jail, the place where prisoners are held.
It is generally used in formal contexts, particularly legal discussions, rather than in everyday conversation.
Yes, you can use 犯人 (fànrén), which also means 'offender' or 'criminal', although it's more general.
