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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
This will mean more remand prisoners being held in police cells.
8
肯沃西以一项微不足道的指控为由将他拘捕了。
kěn wò xī yǐ yī xiàng wēi bù zú dào de zhǐ kòng wéi yóu jiāng tā jū bǔ le。
Kenworthy had run him in on a petty charge.
9
平常在办公室里寡言少语的莱希医生似乎少了些拘谨，多了几分轻松。
píng cháng zài bàn gōng shì lǐ guǎ yán shǎo yǔ de lái xī yī shēng sì hū shǎo le xiē jū jǐn， ， duō le jī fēn qīng。
Usually so laconic in the office, Dr. Lahey seemed less guarded, more relaxed.
10
不要过分拘泥于书上所说的。
bù yào guò fēn jū ní yú shū shàng suǒ shuō de。
Don't stick too precisely to what it says in the book.
Cultural Notes for 拘
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 拘
Words Containing This Character20
拘留jūliúto detain (a prisoner)
拘捕to arrest
刑事拘留to detain as criminal
拘留所prison
拘束jūshùto restrict
拘禁constraint
拘jūto capture
拘谨reserved拘謹
无拘无束unbuttoned無拘無束
拘泥to cling to
刑拘to detain as criminal
不拘一格not stick to one pattern
拘役detention
不拘not stick to
拘押to arrest
不拘小节to not bother about trifles (idiom)不拘小節
拘礼punctilious拘禮
拘传subpoena拘傳
拘票warrant (for arrest)
拘守to hold tight
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 拘留 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拘
You can say '他被警方拘留了' (Tā bèi jǐngfāng jūliúle) meaning 'He was detained by the police.'
Synonyms include 限制 (xiànzhì, to restrict) and 拘留 (jūliú, to detain).
While it is commonly used in legal contexts, it can also describe a person who is overly strict or unyielding.
