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鎖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鎖suǒlock, padlock; chains, shacklesx, 18 strokes, radical 釒
suǒ(suo3)suo T3
  1. 1lock, padlock; chains, shackles
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March 24, 2026

鎖suǒ(suo3)

The character 鎖 (suǒ) primarily means 'lock' or 'padlock,' referring to devices used for securing doors or containers. It can also imply chains or shackles, often in the context of imprisonment or confinement. This word is commonly used when discussing security measures or physical restraints.

Strokes18Radical釒
Cultural note

Locks have a significant role in Chinese culture, especially during the New Year, when they symbolize the hope for security and safety in the coming year. Many people will 'lock' their wishes for the new year by tying a lock on trees or gates in popular tourist areas.

Memory tip

Imagine a heavy, old-fashioned lock (鎖) that has chains wrapped around it, symbolizing both security and confinement. The '金' radical suggests metal, and '所' can remind you of a place where something is kept secure, helping you remember that 'suǒ' relates to locking something up.

Meanings of 鎖

suǒ(suo3)
1lock, padlock; chains, shackles
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鎖 means.

About 鎖

鎖Simplified
18Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鎖

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Podcast: 鎖

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AI study notes for 鎖

Quick Contrast

锁 (suǒ, lock) vs 钥匙 (yàoshi, key) — choose 鎖 when referring specifically to the locking device, not the instrument used to unlock it.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鎖 (suǒ) with 锁 (suǒ), which is a simplified version used in Mainland China. The term is generally informal when used in conversation, but can be used in formal contexts when discussing security. Common collocations include '鎖頭' (lock head) and '鎖住' (to lock up).

HSK Study Tips

Since 鎖 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should focus on its usage in everyday conversations about security. Connecting it to related words like 锁 (lock) and 监狱 (prison) can help reinforce its meaning at lower HSK levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鎖 with similar characters due to the complexity of traditional characters. For example, writing 鎖 as 锁 is incorrect in contexts requiring traditional characters. Remember to use 鎖 when writing in traditional Chinese contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鎖

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Etymology of 鎖

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 鎖. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 𧴪 represents the sound.

Memory hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)⺌
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鎖 = 釒 + ⺌. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鎖

IDS Structure⿰釒⿱⺌貝
鎖Full character
=
釒jin1
left
⺌xiao3
top
貝bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 鎖?

How to say lock, padlock; chains, shackles in Chinese

“lock, padlock; chains, shackles” in Chinese is鎖suǒ

The character 鎖 (suǒ) primarily means 'lock' or 'padlock,' referring to devices used for securing doors or containers. It can also imply chains or shackles, often in the context of imprisonment or confinement. This word is commonly used when discussing security measures or physical restraints.

When to use 鎖

Be careful not to confuse 鎖 (suǒ) with 锁 (suǒ), which is a simplified version used in Mainland China. The term is generally informal when used in conversation, but can be used in formal contexts when discussing security. Common collocations include '鎖頭' (lock head) and '鎖住' (to lock up).

鎖 or something close to it

锁 (suǒ, lock) vs 钥匙 (yàoshi, key) — choose 鎖 when referring specifically to the locking device, not the instrument used to unlock it.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鎖 with similar characters due to the complexity of traditional characters. For example, writing 鎖 as 锁 is incorrect in contexts requiring traditional characters. Remember to use 鎖 when writing in traditional Chinese contexts.

Write 鎖

鎖

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

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Word Family of 鎖

Words containing this character20
锁suǒlock鎖
封锁fēngsuǒto blockade封鎖
锁定suǒdìngto lock (a door)鎖定
连锁liánsuǒto interlock連鎖
门锁door lock門鎖
连锁店liánsuǒdiànchain store連鎖店
锁骨collarbone鎖骨
锁门to lock the door鎖門
枷锁in fetters枷鎖
锁链chains鎖鏈
连锁反应chain reaction連鎖反應
反锁locked in (with the door locked from the outside)反鎖
锁上to lock鎖上
闭锁to lock閉鎖
解锁to unlock解鎖
锁匠locksmith鎖匠
拉锁lāsuǒzipper拉鎖
封锁线blockade line封鎖線
锁孔keyhole鎖孔
锁匙(dialect) key鎖匙
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 鎖

What does 锁 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鎖

鎖 is the traditional form, while 锁 is the simplified form used in Mainland China. Their meanings are the same.

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