銬 meaning and stroke order
Shackles, manacles
How to write 銬, stroke by stroke
14 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 銬
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- shackles
- fetters
- manacle
How 銬 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
釒 gives the meaning and 考 hints at the sound.
Radical: 釒 (gold), shared by 135 characters on this site.
How to remember 銬
銬 combines the metal radical 釒 with 考 (kǎo), which gives the sound. Picture a metal ring snapped on someone being questioned, so the metal side tells you it is a cuff and 考 tells you to say kào.
銬 appears mostly in compounds like 手銬 (shǒukào, handcuffs) and 鐐銬 (liàokào, shackles). It can also work as a verb meaning to handcuff someone. Example: 警察把他銬起來了。(Jǐngchá bǎ tā kào qǐlái le.) The police handcuffed him.
Common mistake: Learners often write 烤 (kǎo, to roast) or 考 (kǎo, test) instead, since all three share 考. Remember that only the metal radical 釒 means cuffs, and its tone is fourth (kào), not third.
Common words with 銬
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 手銬 | shǒukào | manacles; handcuffs | |
| 鐐銬 | liàokào | manacles and leg-irons; fetters and handcuffs |
Questions about 銬
How many strokes are in 銬?
銬 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 銬 mean?
銬 (kào) means shackles, manacles. A common word with it is 手铐 (shǒukào), meaning "manacles; handcuffs".
How do you pronounce 銬?
銬 is pronounced kào, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 銬?
The radical of 銬 is 釒, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 銬 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 銬?
銬 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 铐, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Can 銬 be used as a verb?
Yes. 銬 can mean to handcuff, as in 把他銬上 (bǎ tā kàoshàng), put handcuffs on him. It usually takes a complement like 上 or 起來.
What is the difference between 手銬 and 鐐銬?
手銬 (shǒukào) means handcuffs for the wrists. 鐐銬 (liàokào) covers both leg irons and handcuffs, and it is often used figuratively for restraints or shackles on freedom.