牿 (gù) - Fetters for oxen & a wooden yoke or stocks for restraining cattle

牿Tone 4

gù ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

牿 · gù

Fetters for oxen;

a wooden yoke or stocks for restraining cattle;

by extension, restraint, confinement, or shackles.

Fetters for oxena wooden yoke or stocks for restraining cattleby extension, restraint, confinement, or shackles.

Usage highlights

ox fetterswooden yokeremove the fettersrestraining devicecattle stocks

Synonyms

  • 桎— fetters for the feet
  • 梏— handcuffs, manacles
  • 羁— halter, restraint

Antonyms

  • 放— to release, set free
  • 解— to untie, loosen

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ox was restrained by a yoke (牿).
  • Ancient farmers used wooden fetters (牿) for their livestock.
  • The character appears in classical texts about animal husbandry (畜牧).

Collocations

  • ox fetters(牛牿)
  • wooden yoke(木牿)
  • remove the fetters(脱牿)
  • restraining device(牿具)
  • cattle stocks(牲牿)

Idioms

  • To be confined like an ox in stocks(如牛在牿)
  • Break free from the yoke(破牿而出)
  • The fetters of tradition(传统之牿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a wooden frame used to restrain oxen in ancient Chinese agriculture.
  • Metaphorically used in classical literature to represent constraints, limitations, or bondage.
  • Appears in historical texts about animal husbandry practices in ancient China.

FAQ