掫 (zhōu) - To beat the night watchman's drum & to patrol at night

掫Tone 1

zhōu ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

志

掫 · zhōu

To beat the night watchman's drum;

to patrol at night;

to guard;

to take by force.

To beat the night watchman's drumto patrol at nightto guard

Usage highlights

Night watch drumNight patrolGuard the cityTake by forceBeat the watchNight watch

Synonyms

  • 巡— to patrol
  • 守— to guard
  • 击— to beat (in the sense of striking)

Antonyms

  • 弃— to abandon
  • 撤— to withdraw

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The night watchman beats the drum (掫更).
  • They were on night patrol (掫巡).
  • He guarded the city walls (掫城).
  • The troops took the position by force (掫取).

Collocations

  • Night watch drum(掫更)
  • Night patrol(掫巡)
  • Guard the city(掫城)
  • Take by force(掫取)
  • Beat the watch(击掫)
  • Night watch(守掫)

Idioms

  • Beat the drum for night watch(击鼓掫更)
  • Patrol and guard diligently(掫巡严谨)
  • Take by force and plunder(掫掠)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, night watchmen would beat drums (掫更) to mark the hours and ensure security.
  • The character reflects historical urban security practices where drum-beating signaled time and patrols.
  • Used in military contexts for taking positions or guarding strategic points.

FAQ