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絷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
絷zhíto tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confineg, 12 strokes, radical 糸
絷zhíto connectunknown, 12 strokes, radical 糸
zhí(zhi2) T2
  1. 1to tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confine
  2. 2to connect
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March 24, 2026

絷(縶)zhí(zhi2)

The character 絷 (zhí) primarily means to tie up or shackle something or someone. It can also imply confining or imprisoning, often used in contexts where connections or bindings are involved, such as in relationships or physical restraints.

Strokes12Radical糸
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of tying or binding often evokes themes of loyalty and responsibility, particularly in familial or societal contexts. The idea of being shackled can also relate to historical practices in governance and law.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone tying a heavy rope around a tree (the top part of 絷 resembles a rope) to keep it from falling. The character's bottom part, which resembles a person, symbolizes being confined or shackled, helping you remember that zhí means to tie up or imprison.

Meanings of 絷

zhí(zhi2)
1to tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confine
2to connect
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 絷

絷Simplified
縶Traditional
12Strokes
糸Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 絷

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Podcast: 絷

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AI Study Notes for 絷

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 絷 with similar characters like 系 (xì), which means to tie but is used more broadly for connections. This character is more formal and may appear in literature or legal contexts. Be mindful of the fourth tone in pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 絷 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with other characters related to confinement or binding, such as 拴 (shuān, to tie) and 绑 (bǎng, to bind). Focus on understanding its nuances in context and practice using it in sentences about relationships or restrictions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 絷 with 系 (xì), using it in informal contexts instead of formal ones. For instance, saying '我系这个' (wǒ xì zhège) instead of the correct '我絷这个' (wǒ zhí zhège) can lead to misuse.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 絷

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Etymology of 絷

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To capture 执 and bind 糸 someone; 执 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 絷

  1. 1The giveawayTo capture 执 and bind 糸 someone; 执 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 絷? 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 絷?

Decomposition of 絷

IDS Structure⿱执糸
絷Full Character
=
执zhi2
top
糸mi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 絷?

How to say to tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confine in Chinese

“to tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confine” in Chinese is絷zhí

The character 絷 (zhí) primarily means to tie up or shackle something or someone. It can also imply confining or imprisoning, often used in contexts where connections or bindings are involved, such as in relationships or physical restraints.

When to use 絷

Common mistakes include confusing 絷 with similar characters like 系 (xì), which means to tie but is used more broadly for connections. This character is more formal and may appear in literature or legal contexts. Be mindful of the fourth tone in pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 絷 with 系 (xì), using it in informal contexts instead of formal ones. For instance, saying '我系这个' (wǒ xì zhège) instead of the correct '我絷这个' (wǒ zhí zhège) can lead to misuse.

Write 絷

絷

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 絷

Words Containing This Character1
絷zhíto connect縶
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 絷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 絷

You can use 絷 in a sentence like '他被絷住了' (tā bèi zhí zhù le), meaning 'He was tied up.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 絷?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.