束 (shù) - to bind & to tie

束Tone 4

shù ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 木

姝树

束 · shù

to bind;

to tie;

bundle;

bunch;

restraint;

control;

measure word for bunches or bundles.

to bindto tiebundle

Usage highlights

to bindbundlerestraintbeam of lightbunch of flowerselectronic beam

Synonyms

  • 捆— to tie, to bundle
  • 绑— to bind, to tie
  • 缚— to tie up, to bind

Antonyms

  • 放— to release, to let go
  • 松— to loosen, to relax
  • 解— to untie, to solve

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He tied up the books with a rope (束书).
  • This is a bunch of flowers (一束花).
  • The government imposed restrictions (约束).
  • She received a beam of light (一束光).

Collocations

  • to bind(束缚)
  • bundle(束装)
  • restraint(约束)
  • beam of light(光束)
  • bunch of flowers(花束)
  • electronic beam(电子束)

Idioms

  • To be helpless and unable to do anything about it(束手无策)
  • To wait for death with hands tied(束手待毙)
  • To tie one's hands and surrender(束手就擒)
  • To be overcautious and indecisive(束手束脚)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted tying something with a rope around a bundle of sticks or objects.
  • In Confucian thought, it represents necessary social restraints and self-discipline.
  • Used in modern contexts for scientific terms like 'beam' or 'bundle' (e.g., 光束, 电子束).

FAQ