Meaning of 锁
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to lock; to lock up
- a lock (CL:把[ba3])
- old variant of 鎖|锁[suo3]
How to use 锁
锁 works as a noun for a lock, counted with 把 (bǎ), and as a verb meaning to lock. As a verb it often takes 上 to show the action is complete. Example: 出门前别忘了锁上门。(Chū mén qián bié wàng le suǒ shàng mén.) Don't forget to lock the door before you go out.
锁 has the metal radical 钅 on the left, so think of a lock as a small metal object. The right side 𭃄 looks like a tiny body with a little hook on top, like a padlock with its shackle.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side like 肖 (xiào), as in 消 or 销 (xiāo), because the shapes are close. 锁 has a 丷-like top over 贝, while 销 has 小 over 月. Also keep the third tone in suǒ. Do not say it as suō.
锁 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
锁 suǒ · to lock · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 锁.
| 封锁 | fēngsuǒ | to blockade; to seal off |
| 锁定 | suǒdìng | to lock (a door); to close with a latch |
| 连锁 | liánsuǒ | to interlock; to be linked |
| 连锁店 | liánsuǒdiàn | chain store |
| 拉锁 | lāsuǒ | zipper |
| 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] |
Questions about 锁
What does 锁 mean?
锁 (suǒ) means "to lock; to lock up; a lock (CL:把[ba3])" and is used as a noun and verb.
How do you write 锁?
锁 is made of 1 character: 锁 (12 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 锁 an HSK word?
Yes. 锁 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 锁 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 锁 is written 鎖.
How do you say 'the door is locked' in Chinese?
You can say 门锁着 (mén suǒ zhe) to describe the state of being locked. If you want to stress that someone locked it, say 门锁上了 (mén suǒ shàng le).
Why does 锁 appear in words like 连锁店 and 拉锁?
The idea of linking or fastening carries into these words. 连锁店 (liánsuǒdiàn) means chain store, shops linked together like chain links. 拉锁 (lāsuǒ) means zipper, literally a lock you pull.