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监狱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
监狱jiānyùprisonHSK 7, n, 19 strokes, rank #685, Very Hard
jiānyù(jian1yu4)jian yu T1
  1. 1prison
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March 24, 2026

监狱(監獄)jiānyù(jian1yu4)

监狱 (jiān yù) refers to a facility where individuals are incarcerated as punishment for crimes. It is commonly used in legal and social contexts, often associated with discussions about criminal justice, rehabilitation, and human rights.

Strokes19Frequency#685DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, discussions around 监狱 can reflect societal attitudes towards crime and punishment, including a blend of traditional and modern perspectives on rehabilitation versus retribution.

Memory Tip

Think of 监 (jiān) as a watchtower, where guards monitor prisoners, and 狱 (yù) as a 'yucky' place where people don’t want to end up. Together, they depict a place where one is watched over while being in a negative environment.

Meanings of 监狱

jiānyù(jian1yu4)
1prison
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 监狱

监狱Simplified
監獄Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#685Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 监狱

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Podcast: 监狱

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AI Study Notes for 监狱

Quick Contrast

监狱 (jiānyù) vs 拘留所 (jūliú suǒ): 监狱 refers to a prison for long-term incarceration, while 拘留所 is a detention center for holding individuals temporarily.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 监狱, as using the wrong tone can change its meaning entirely. It is typically a formal term, often used in legal discussions or when referring to the justice system. Common collocations include '监狱生活' (prison life) and '监狱管理' (prison management).

HSK Study Tips

As a Level 6 HSK word, 监狱 is often encountered in advanced discussions about law, society, and crime. Students should focus on context and usage in formal situations as well as related vocabulary about justice and crime.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 监狱 (prison) with 看守所 (guard house), which is a place for temporary detention. Remember that 监狱 is for serving sentences, while 看守所 is for holding individuals before trial.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 监狱

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Component Characters

监jiānhard
HSK 710 strokes皿
View full entry
狱yùprison
9 strokes犭
View full entry

How to say prison in Chinese

“prison” in Chinese is监狱jiānyù

监狱 (jiān yù) refers to a facility where individuals are incarcerated as punishment for crimes. It is commonly used in legal and social contexts, often associated with discussions about criminal justice, rehabilitation, and human rights.

When to use 监狱

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 监狱, as using the wrong tone can change its meaning entirely. It is typically a formal term, often used in legal discussions or when referring to the justice system. Common collocations include '监狱生活' (prison life) and '监狱管理' (prison management).

监狱 or something close to it

监狱 (jiānyù) vs 拘留所 (jūliú suǒ): 监狱 refers to a prison for long-term incarceration, while 拘留所 is a detention center for holding individuals temporarily.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 监狱 (prison) with 看守所 (guard house), which is a place for temporary detention. Remember that 监狱 is for serving sentences, while 看守所 is for holding individuals before trial.

Write 监狱

监
狱

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

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Grammar Patterns of 监狱

监狱 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他在得克萨斯____服刑时学会了这首歌。

He learned this song as an inmate at a Texas prison.

Example Sentences for 监狱 (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
12名犯人在一场监狱暴乱中被杀害。

12 12 míng fàn rén zài yī cháng jiān yù bào luàn zhōng bèi shā。

Twelve inmates have been killed during a riot at the prison.
3
在昨天的一次秘密行动中她从监狱获释。

zài zuó tiān de yī cì mì mì háng dòng zhōng tā cóng jiān yù huò shì。

She was released from prison in a cloak and dagger operation yesterday.
4
艾娜是个坏女孩，后来自然就进了监狱。

ài nà shì gè huài nǚ hái， ， hòu lái zì rán jiù jìn le jiān。

Ina is a bad girl so, natch, ends up in prison.
5
“我们要了解一下其他监狱官的想法，好吗？”

“ “ wǒ mén yào le jiě yī xià qí tā jiān yù guān de xiǎng， fǎ ，？”

"We'll see what other prisoner officers think, all right?"
6
许多人受雇于监狱的木材和金属加工厂。

xǔ duō rén shòu gù yú jiān yù de mù cái hé jīn shǔ jiā gōng chǎng。

Many are employed in the prison's wood and metalwork factories.
7
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?
8
加西亚先生说他对监狱中发生的事件问心无愧。

jiā xī yà xiān shēng shuō tā duì jiān yù zhōng fā shēng de shì jiàn wèn xīn wú kuì。

Mr Garcia said his conscience was clear over the jail incidents.
9
她对英国的监狱问题只有些许模糊的认识。

tā duì yīng guó de jiān yù wèn tí zhī yǒu xiē xǔ mó hū de rèn shí。

She had only a hazy idea of Britain's prison problems.
10
昨晚他被单独监禁在道格拉斯的监狱里。

zuó wǎn tā bèi dān dú jiān jīn zài dào gé lā sī de jiān yù lǐ。

Last night he was being held in solitary confinement in Douglas jail.

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Cultural Notes for 监狱

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, prisons often emphasize rehabilitation, while in China, there can be a stronger focus on punishment and social order.

Frequently Asked Questions about 监狱

监狱 refers specifically to prisons for long-term incarceration, while 拘留所 refers to detention centers for short-term holding.

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