() - to restrain & to restrict

Tone 1

jū | 8 strokes | radical: 扌

·

to restrain;

to restrict;

to detain;

to adhere rigidly to;

inflexible

to restrainto restrictto detain

Usage highlights

detainrestrainarresthouse arrestrigid adherenceformal restraint

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was detained by the police (被警察拘留).
  • Don't be too rigid in your thinking (不要拘泥于旧观念).
  • The suspect is under house arrest (嫌疑人被拘禁在家中).
  • She is too reserved in formal situations (她在正式场合太拘束).

Collocations

  • detain(拘留)
  • restrain(拘束)
  • arrest(拘捕)
  • house arrest(拘禁)
  • rigid adherence(拘泥)
  • formal restraint(拘礼)

Idioms

  • Unrestrained and free(无拘无束)
  • Rigidly adhere to formalities(拘文牵义)
  • Too cautious and restrained(拘拘束束)
  • Stick to conventions without flexibility(拘守成规)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian context, 拘 reflects the tension between proper ritual restraint and excessive rigidity.
  • The character embodies the Chinese cultural value of knowing when to follow rules and when to be flexible.
  • In legal contexts, 拘 is commonly used in terms related to detention and restriction of freedom.

FAQ