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March 24, 2026
拘jū(ju1)
The character 拘 (jū) primarily means to capture or restrain someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts related to law enforcement, such as detaining a suspect, and can also imply a rigid adherence to rules or conventions. The nuance suggests a sense of inflexibility or constraint in behavior or thought.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#36210DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of restraint is often related to social harmony and respect for authority, which is reflected in the use of 拘 in legal contexts. The idea of being 'bound' to societal norms is significant in traditional Chinese thought.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'jew' (sounds like 'jū') who is tightly bound by ropes (the radical 扌, which suggests action or hand). Visualize this 'jew' being captured and unable to escape, which connects to the idea of restraint and inflexibility.
Meanings of 拘
jū(ju1)
1to capture
2to restrain
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拘
拘Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#36210Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拘
Podcast: 拘
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AI Study Notes for 拘
Quick Contrast
拘 (jū) vs 限 (xiàn) — use 拘 when emphasizing capture or restraint, while 限 focuses on limiting or restricting within boundaries.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 拘, as it is a first tone (jū). Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. In formal contexts, it is often paired with legal terms, while in informal settings, it can refer to someone being too strict or uptight.
HSK Study Tips
Though 拘 is not in the official HSK list, it can be linked to words at HSK Level 3 related to law or rules, such as 法 (fǎ, law) or 规则 (guīzé, rule). Students should focus on combining it with other legal terms to build contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 拘 with other characters like 具 (jù), which means 'to possess' or 'tool.' For example, saying '我拘这个工具' (Wǒ jū zhège gōngjù) is incorrect; it should be '我有这个工具' (Wǒ yǒu zhège gōngjù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拘
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 句 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half句 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 拘? 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 拘?
Decomposition of 拘
IDS Structure⿰扌句
拘Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
句gou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 拘?
How to say to capture in Chinese
“to capture” in Chinese is拘jū
The character 拘 (jū) primarily means to capture or restrain someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts related to law enforcement, such as detaining a suspect, and can also imply a rigid adherence to rules or conventions. The nuance suggests a sense of inflexibility or constraint in behavior or thought.
When to use 拘
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 拘, as it is a first tone (jū). Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. In formal contexts, it is often paired with legal terms, while in informal settings, it can refer to someone being too strict or uptight.
拘 or something close to it
拘 (jū) vs 限 (xiàn) — use 拘 when emphasizing capture or restraint, while 限 focuses on limiting or restricting within boundaries.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拘 with other characters like 具 (jù), which means 'to possess' or 'tool.' For example, saying '我拘这个工具' (Wǒ jū zhège gōngjù) is incorrect; it should be '我有这个工具' (Wǒ yǒu zhège gōngjù).
Write 拘
拘
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Practice writing 拘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 拘
拘 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我们非常____谨地坐在长椅的两头。
We sat primly at either end of a long settee.
Example Sentences for 拘 (10)
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1
我们非常拘谨地坐在长椅的两头。
wǒ mén fēi cháng jū jǐn dì zuò zài cháng yǐ de liǎng tóu。
We sat primly at either end of a long settee.
2
这一拘留行为引发了两个互为独立但又密切相关的问题。
zhè yī jū liú háng wéi yǐn fā le liǎng gè hù wéi dú lì dàn yòu mì qiē xiāng guān de wèn tí。
The detention raised two distinct but closely linked questions.
