镣 (liào) - Fetters & shackles

镣Tone 4

liào ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

嘹林

镣 · liào

Fetters;

shackles;

leg irons;

metal restraints used to bind prisoners' ankles.

Fettersshacklesleg irons

Usage highlights

Leg fettersIron shacklesFetters and handcuffsPrisoner's shacklesHeavy fettersChain fetters

Synonyms

  • 铐— handcuffs; manacles
  • 枷— cangue; wooden collar

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The prisoner was bound in iron shackles (脚镣).
  • Ancient punishments often involved wearing fetters (镣铐).
  • Heavy leg irons (铁镣) restricted movement.
  • The sound of dragging chains and fetters (镣链声) echoed.

Collocations

  • Leg fetters(脚镣)
  • Iron shackles(铁镣)
  • Fetters and handcuffs(镣铐)
  • Prisoner's shackles(囚镣)
  • Heavy fetters(重镣)
  • Chain fetters(镣链)

Idioms

  • Bound by shackles and handcuffs(披枷戴镣)
  • Shackles and fetters(镣铐枷锁)
  • Iron chains and shackles(铁索银镣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in Chinese penal systems as physical restraints for prisoners.
  • Symbolizes imprisonment, loss of freedom, and severe punishment in literature.
  • Often appears in historical dramas and novels depicting judicial punishment.

FAQ