Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 囚

囚

Level:N1 Low
Strokes:5
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 囚 represents "prisoner," "to be captured," or "to be confined." It embodies the concept of being held against one's will, restricted, or incarcerated. The core meaning revolves around a state of captivity and being deprived of freedom.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): シュウ (shū) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): とら(われる) (tora(wareru)) – to be captured; とら(える) (tora(eru)) – to capture

Usage Examples

⚫︎ 囚人 (しゅうじん) Translation: Prisoner ⚫︎ 囚われの身 (とらわれのみ) Translation: Being a captive; being in captivity ⚫︎ 逮捕 (たいほ)  (Although 捕 is the primary kanji for "arrest," 逮捕 sometimes implies confinement) Translation: Arrest

Origin and Formation

The kanji 囚 is a pictograph. It depicts a person 人 inside an enclosure or boundary 囗. The "囗" is a simplified form of a square or box and represents a boundary or restriction. The "人" inside the "囗" symbolizes a person being enclosed and hence, imprisoned or captured.

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