髠 (kūn) - To shave the head & ancient punishment involving head-shaving

髠Tone 1

kūn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

髠 · kūn

To shave the head;

ancient punishment involving head-shaving;

bald;

tonsure.

To shave the headancient punishment involving head-shavingbald

Usage highlights

HeadShaved headTo shave the headTonsure punishmentShaved prisonerAncient head

Synonyms

  • 剃— to shave (general term)
  • 削发— to shave the head (Buddhist context)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He received the punishment of head-shaving (髠刑).
  • The monk had a shaved head (髠首).
  • Ancient punishment included head-shaving (髠钳).
  • The criminal was subjected to tonsure (受髠).

Collocations

  • Head-shaving punishment(髠刑)
  • Shaved head(髠首)
  • Head-shaving and shackling(髠钳)
  • To shave the head(髠发)
  • Tonsure punishment(髠罚)
  • Shaved prisoner(髠徒)

Idioms

  • Shaving the head and branding the face(髠首刖足)
  • Head-shaving and ear-cutting punishment(髠刖之刑)
  • Shaved head and bound feet(髠钳为奴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 髠 was one of the five ancient punishments in China, considered less severe than corporal punishment but still humiliating.
  • The punishment was often used for minor offenses and involved shaving the head as a visible mark of criminal status.
  • In Buddhist context, head-shaving represents renunciation of worldly attachments, though the character 髠 carries negative connotations.
  • The punishment was abolished during the Sui and Tang dynasties but remained in historical records.

FAQ