勒 (lēi) - To rein in & to force

勒Tone 1

lēi ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

勒 · lēi

To rein in;

to force;

to compel;

to carve;

to engrave;

a strap or bridle;

used in words related to restraint, inscription, or coercion.

To rein into forceto compel

Usage highlights

Rein in the horseForcefully orderEngrave on stoneExtortTighten the beltCheckpoint

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He reined in the horse (勒马).
  • The government imposed strict regulations (勒令).
  • The artist engraved the inscription on the stone (勒石).
  • They were forced to pay a fine (勒索).

Collocations

  • Rein in the horse(勒马)
  • Forcefully order(勒令)
  • Engrave on stone(勒石)
  • Extort(勒索)
  • Tighten the belt(勒紧腰带)
  • Checkpoint(勒检站)

Idioms

  • Rein in at the brink of the precipice(悬崖勒马)
  • Carve a boat to seek the sword (刻舟求剑) - note: uses 刻, but 勒 shares the 'engrave' sense
  • Force a smile(勒笑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted reining in a horse with a leather bridle, hence meanings of restraint and control.
  • Used in historical contexts for imperial decrees carved on stone steles (勒石纪功).
  • In modern usage, often carries negative connotations of coercion or extortion (e.g., 勒索).

FAQ