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March 24, 2026
狱(獄)yù(yu4)
The character 狱 (yù) refers to a place of confinement, specifically a prison or jail. It can also connote legal contexts, such as cases or lawsuits. This character is commonly used in discussions about law, justice, and the penal system.
Strokes9Radical犭Frequency#4722DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of justice and punishment has deep historical roots, often reflected in literature and philosophy, making 狱 a significant term in discussions about morality and social order.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'yacht' (sounds like 'yù') trapped in a 'cage' (the radical '犭' suggests animals and confinement). Picture this yacht being held captive in a vast 'ocean of legal troubles', representing the concept of prison.
Meanings of 狱
yù(yu4)
1prison
2prison, jail; case; lawsuit
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 狱
狱Simplified
獄Traditional
9Strokes
犭Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#4722Frequency Rank
Podcast: 狱
Podcast: 狱
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AI Study Notes for 狱
Quick Contrast
监狱 (jiān yù) vs 狱 (yù): 监狱 specifically refers to a prison facility, while 狱 has a broader legal connotation, including any place of confinement or legal contexts.
Usage Notes
When using 狱, be careful to distinguish it from related terms like 监狱 (jiān yù), which specifically means 'prison'. This character is more formal and is typically used in legal contexts; informal terms for jail might differ. Avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
While 狱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other legal and formal terms at various levels. Students should focus on understanding its usage in legal contexts and its relationship to other words related to crime and punishment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 狱 with 监狱 (jiān yù), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我去狱' ('I go to prison') instead of '我去监狱' is incorrect; use 监狱 for specific prison contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 狱
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Knowing 狱 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 狱 (yù) refers to a place of confinement, specifically a prison or jail. It can also connote legal contexts, such as cases or lawsuits. This character is commonly used in discussions about law, justice, and the penal system.
When to use 狱
When using 狱, be careful to distinguish it from related terms like 监狱 (jiān yù), which specifically means 'prison'. This character is more formal and is typically used in legal contexts; informal terms for jail might differ. Avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding words.
狱 or something close to it
监狱 (jiān yù) vs 狱 (yù): 监狱 specifically refers to a prison facility, while 狱 has a broader legal connotation, including any place of confinement or legal contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 狱 with 监狱 (jiān yù), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我去狱' ('I go to prison') instead of '我去监狱' is incorrect; use 监狱 for specific prison contexts.
Write 狱
狱
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Grammar Patterns of 狱
狱 carries 2 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他在得克萨斯监____服刑时学会了这首歌。
He learned this song as an inmate at a Texas prison.
Example Sentences for 狱 (10)
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1
他在得克萨斯监狱服刑时学会了这首歌。
tā zài dé kè sà sī jiān yù fú xíng shí xué huì le zhè shǒu gē。
He learned this song as an inmate at a Texas prison.
2
他被指控为英国间谍，入狱关押了5年。
tā bèi zhǐ kòng wéi yīng guó jiān dié， ， rù yù guān yā5 le。
He was jailed for five years as an alleged British spy.
Many are employed in the prison's wood and metalwork factories.
9
你是说他们把太多人关进了监狱？
nǐ shì shuō tā mén bǎ tài duō rén guān jìn le jiān yù？
You're saying they are sending too many people to prison?
10
每年有近5,000人因违章驾车而入狱。
měi nián yǒu jìn5,000 5,000 rén yīn wéi zhāng jià chē ér rù。
Nearly 5,000 people a year are put behind bars over motoring penalties.
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Word Family of 狱
Words Containing This Character20
监狱jiānyùprison監獄
地狱dìyùhell地獄
狱yùprison獄
越狱to break out of prison越獄
入狱to go to jail入獄
出狱to be released from prison出獄
炼狱purgatory煉獄
牢狱prison牢獄
人间地狱fig. having an uncomfortable time人間地獄
狱卒jailer (old)獄卒
锒铛入狱to get jailed鋃鐺入獄
牢狱之灾imprisonment牢獄之災
下狱to imprison下獄
劫狱to break into jail劫獄
冤狱frame-up冤獄
文字狱literary inquisition文字獄
狱吏prison guard獄吏
典狱长warden典獄長
秦城监狱Qincheng Prison, maximum-security prison located about 30 km north of central Beijing, whose inmates include former high-level officials convicted of corruption秦城監獄
断狱to pass judgment on a legal case斷獄
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 狱
What does 监狱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 狱
It is pronounced as 'yù', with a falling tone.
Common phrases include 监狱 (jiān yù - prison) and 法院案件 (fǎyuàn ànjiàn - court case) which relate to legal contexts.
Yes, 狱 is a broader term for prison or jail, while 监狱 specifically refers to a correctional facility.
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