縻 (mí) - To tie up, tether, or restrain & to be entangled or involved in

縻Tone 2

mí ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

縻 · mí

To tie up, tether, or restrain;

to be entangled or involved in;

also refers to a halter or bridle for animals.

To tie up, tether, or restrainto be entangled or involved inalso refers to a halter or bridle for

Usage highlights

To tie upTo be entangled inTo detain and involveHalter and bridleTo restrain and controlTo involve and delay

Synonyms

  • 系— to tie, fasten
  • 缚— to bind, tie up
  • 羁— to halter, restrain, detain

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The horse was tethered to a post (马被縻在柱子上).
  • He was entangled in bureaucratic red tape (他被縻于官僚程序).
  • The general used a strategy to tie down enemy forces (将军用计縻住敌军).

Collocations

  • To tie up(縻系)
  • To be entangled in(縻于)
  • To detain and involve(羁縻)
  • Halter and bridle(縻绠)
  • To restrain and control(縻束)
  • To involve and delay(縻滞)

Idioms

  • To control and pacify frontier regions(羁縻政策)
  • Bound by official duties(职务縻身)
  • Entangled and unable to break free(縻绊难脱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to tying up cattle or horses with ropes, later extended to mean restraint or entanglement.
  • Used in historical contexts for policies of loose control over frontier regions and ethnic groups (羁縻政策).
  • In traditional culture, it carries connotations of being bound by worldly affairs or official duties.

FAQ