锁 meaning and stroke order
To lock; to lock up; a lock (CL:把[ba3])
How to write 锁, stroke by stroke
12 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 锁
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to lock; to lock up
- a lock (CL:把[ba3])
- old variant of 鎖|锁[suo3]
How 锁 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and ⺌ hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锁
锁 (suǒ) has the metal radical 钅 on the left, because a lock is made of metal. On the right, ⺌ gives a hint of the sound and sits on top of 贝 (bèi, shell, an old symbol of money), so picture a metal lock guarding your valuables.
锁 works as a verb meaning to lock and as a noun meaning a lock, counted with 把 (bǎ). It often appears with a result word like 上 or in compounds such as 门锁 and 连锁店. Example: 出门别忘了锁门。(Chūmén bié wàng le suǒ mén.) Don't forget to lock the door when you go out.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 锁 with 销 (xiāo, to sell). Both have 钅 on the left, but 销 has 肖 on the right, while 锁 has 贝 under the three dots.
Common words with 锁
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 封锁 | fēngsuǒ | to blockade; to seal off | HSK 7-9 |
| 锁定 | suǒdìng | to lock (a door); to close with a latch | HSK 7-9 |
| 连锁 | liánsuǒ | to interlock; to be linked | HSK 7-9 |
| 连锁店 | liánsuǒdiàn | chain store | HSK 7-9 |
| 拉锁 | lāsuǒ | zipper | HSK 7-9 |
| 锁上 | suǒshàng | to lock; to lock up | |
| 门锁 | ménsuǒ | door lock | |
| 锁门 | suǒmén | to lock the door | |
| 上锁 | shàngsuǒ | to lock; to be locked | |
| 锁链 | suǒliàn | chains; shackles | |
| 枷锁 | jiāsuǒ | stocks and chain; in fetters | |
| 锁匙 | suǒchí | (dialect) key; Taiwan pr. [suo3 shi5] | |
| 开锁 | kāisuǒ | to unlock | |
| 解锁 | jiěsuǒ | to unlock; to release |
锁 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 锁
How many strokes are in 锁?
锁 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锁 mean?
锁 (suǒ) means to lock; to lock up; a lock (CL:把[ba3]). A common word with it is 封锁 (fēngsuǒ), meaning "to blockade; to seal off".
How do you pronounce 锁?
锁 is pronounced suǒ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 锁?
The radical of 锁 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锁 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锁?
The traditional form of 锁 is 鎖 and 鎻. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锁 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 锁 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 锁 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say I locked myself out in Chinese?
A common way is 我把自己锁在门外了 (wǒ bǎ zìjǐ suǒ zài mén wài le), I locked myself outside. The 把 structure with 锁 plus a place is very natural here.
Why does 锁 appear in words like 连锁店 and 拉锁 that are not about doors?
锁 extends to things that link or close together. 连锁 (liánsuǒ) means linked like a chain, so 连锁店 is a chain store, and 拉锁 (lāsuǒ) is a zipper, something you pull to close.