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March 24, 2026
銬kào(kao4)
The character 銬 (kào) refers to shackles or manacles, typically used to restrain a person's movement. It is often used in contexts related to law enforcement or imprisonment, highlighting the concept of confinement or restriction.
Strokes14Radical釒
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the use of shackles was a common punitive measure in imperial law, reflecting societal attitudes towards punishment and control. This character embodies the historical significance of restraint in maintaining order.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person being 'caught' (sounds like 'kào') in heavy metal shackles. The character 銬 has the metal radical (金) at its core, symbolizing the heavy, cold nature of shackles, making it easier to remember that it relates to confinement.
Meanings of 銬
kào(kao4)
1shackles, manacles
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 銬
銬Simplified
14Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 銬
Podcast: 銬
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AI Study Notes for 銬
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person being 'caught' (sounds like 'kào') in heavy metal shackles. The character 銬 has the metal radical (金) at its core, symbolizing the heavy, cold nature of shackles, making it easier to remember that it relates to confinement.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 銬; it carries a fourth tone (kào), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. This term is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '将某人銬住' (to shackle someone).
HSK Study Tips
Although 銬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other words related to law enforcement and restraint, such as '监狱' (prison) and '拘留' (detention). Students should focus on the context in which it is used and its relation to law enforcement vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the use of shackles was a common punitive measure in imperial law, reflecting societal attitudes towards punishment and control. This character embodies the historical significance of restraint in maintaining order.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 銬 with similar characters due to pronunciation or tone, such as '靠' (kào), meaning to rely on. Ensure you practice the correct tones to avoid misunderstandings.
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Pronunciation of 銬
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Cultural Notes for 銬
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the use of shackles was a common punitive measure in imperial law, reflecting societal attitudes towards punishment and control. This character embodies the historical significance of restraint in maintaining order.
Word Family of 銬
Words Containing This Character3
手铐manacles手銬
铐kàoshackles銬
镣铐manacles and leg-irons鐐銬
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 手铐 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 銬
It is pronounced as 'kào' with a falling tone.
You would use 銬 in discussions about law enforcement or historical references to imprisonment.
A synonym would be '手铐' (shǒukào), which specifically means handcuffs.
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