鞿 (jī) - Bridle, rein & to restrain, to control

鞿Tone 1

jī ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

鞿 · jī

Bridle, rein;

to restrain, to control;

metaphorically refers to constraints or restrictions.

Bridle, reinto restrain, to controlmetaphorically refers to constraints or restrictions.

Usage highlights

Bridle and halterRestrained by rulesBreak free from constraintsHorse's bridleSocial restraintsOfficial constraints

Synonyms

  • 羁— halter, restraint
  • 束— bind, restrain
  • 缚— tie, bind

Antonyms

  • 放— release, set free
  • 纵— indulge, let loose
  • 驰— relax, loosen

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The horse was restrained by the bridle (马受鞿).
  • He felt constrained by social conventions (他感到被礼教所鞿).
  • Ancient officials were often bound by strict rules (古代官员常被法规所鞿).

Collocations

  • Bridle and halter(鞿鞅)
  • Restrained by rules(被规鞿)
  • Break free from constraints(脱鞿)
  • Horse's bridle(马鞿)
  • Social restraints(礼教之鞿)
  • Official constraints(官场之鞿)

Idioms

  • Name and halter, fame and bridle(名鞿利鞅)
  • Bound by fame and restrained by profit(利锁名鞿)
  • Break from the bridle and cast off the halter(脱鞿解鞅)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to horse tack in ancient China, specifically the bridle and reins used to control horses.
  • Metaphorically extended to represent social, moral, or bureaucratic constraints in Confucian society.
  • Often appears in classical literature describing the restrictions faced by scholars and officials.

FAQ