拘 meaning and stroke order
To detain, to restrain, to seize
How to write 拘, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 拘
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to capture
- to restrain
- to constrain
- to adhere rigidly to
- inflexible
How 拘 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 句 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 拘
A hand 扌 grabs someone and holds them by their words 句 (jù). The hand side tells you the meaning is about seizing or holding, and 句 gives the sound jū.
拘 rarely stands alone and mostly appears in compounds. Some, like 拘留 (jūliú) and 拘捕 (jūbǔ), are about police detaining people. Others, like 拘束 (jūshù) and 拘谨 (jūjǐn), describe feeling restrained or stiff in social situations. Example: 别拘束，就像在自己家一样。(Bié jūshù, jiù xiàng zài zìjǐ jiā yíyàng.) Don't be shy, make yourself at home.
Common mistake: Learners often read 拘 as jù because of its phonetic part 句 (jù). The correct tone is first tone, jū. Also do not confuse it with 抱 (bào, to hug), which has a similar hand-plus-wrap shape.
Common words with 拘
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
拘 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 拘
How many strokes are in 拘?
拘 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 拘 mean?
拘 (jū) means to detain, to restrain, to seize. A common word with it is 拘留 (jūliú), meaning "to detain (as a prisoner); to keep sb in custody".
How do you pronounce 拘?
拘 is pronounced jū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 拘?
The radical of 拘 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 拘 under this radical.
Is 拘 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 拘 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 拘留 and 逮捕?
拘留 (jūliú) means holding someone in custody for a limited time, often as an administrative or short-term measure. 逮捕 (dàibǔ) is a formal arrest in a criminal case and is usually more serious.
What does 不拘 mean in phrases like 不拘小节?
不拘 (bùjū) means not bound by or not limited to something. 不拘小节 (bùjū xiǎojié) describes someone who does not fuss over small details of manners or formality.