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獄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
獄yùprison, jail; case; lawsuitx, 14 strokes, radical 犭
yù(yu4)yu T4
  1. 1prison, jail; case; lawsuit
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March 24, 2026

獄yù(yu4)

The character 獄 (yù) primarily means 'prison' or 'jail' and is often associated with the legal system. It can also refer to a legal case or lawsuit, highlighting its significance in discussions related to justice and crime. In both everyday and formal contexts, it denotes spaces and situations involving confinement or legal proceedings.

Strokes14Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, prisons have historically been a significant part of the justice system, often seen as a means of punishment and reform. The character 獄 reflects the serious nature of legal consequences, which are deeply rooted in Confucian values regarding law and order.

Memory tip

Picture a 'youth' (sounds like 'yù') who has made a mistake and now finds themselves in a 'cage' (the radical '犭' suggests animals or confinement). The character's structure evokes a sense of imprisonment, where the 'cage' is a metaphor for the prison environment.

Meanings of 獄

yù(yu4)
1prison, jail; case; lawsuit
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 獄

獄Simplified
14Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 獄

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AI study notes for 獄

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 獄, as it is typically formal and related to legal matters. Common collocations include '監獄' (jiān yù, prison) and '刑獄' (xíng yù, penal system). A typical mistake is to confuse it with '寓' (yù), which means residence or dwelling, so pay attention to tonal pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 獄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other legal and crime-related terms you may encounter. Focus on recognizing its use in legal contexts and alongside other characters that depict confinement or law.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 獄 with 宇 (yǔ), which means universe or space, due to similar sounds. Ensure you practice the tonal differences to avoid this confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 獄

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Etymology of 獄

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 獄. Depicts being between two barking (言) guard dogs (犬).

Memory hint

A guard dog 犭 talking 言 to a prisoner 犬

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 獄?

Decomposition of 獄

IDS Structure⿰犭⿰言犬
獄Full character
=
犭quan3
left
言yan2
left
犬quan3
right
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 獄?

How to say prison, jail; case; lawsuit in Chinese

“prison, jail; case; lawsuit” in Chinese is獄yù

The character 獄 (yù) primarily means 'prison' or 'jail' and is often associated with the legal system. It can also refer to a legal case or lawsuit, highlighting its significance in discussions related to justice and crime. In both everyday and formal contexts, it denotes spaces and situations involving confinement or legal proceedings.

When to use 獄

Be mindful of the context in which you use 獄, as it is typically formal and related to legal matters. Common collocations include '監獄' (jiān yù, prison) and '刑獄' (xíng yù, penal system). A typical mistake is to confuse it with '寓' (yù), which means residence or dwelling, so pay attention to tonal pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 獄 with 宇 (yǔ), which means universe or space, due to similar sounds. Ensure you practice the tonal differences to avoid this confusion.

Write 獄

獄

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

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Word Family of 獄

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 獄

What does 监狱 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 獄

獄 (yù) has a broader legal connotation, often relating to cases and legal matters, while 监狱 (jiān yù) specifically refers to a prison.

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