shackles; yoke; fetters; metaphor for oppression and bondage
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
cangue and lock; actual historical shackles
literaryLiteral term for the physical instruments of restraint used in ancient times. Often a component of the modern metaphorical meaning.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
qiú囚
fàn犯
cháng常
bèi被
dài戴
shàng上
chén沉
zhòng重
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
In ancient times, prisoners were often fitted with heavy shackles.
Bó博
wù物
guǎn馆
lǐ里
zhǎn展
chū出
le了
yī一
fù副
Míng明
dài代
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
A set of shackles from the Ming dynasty is on display in the museum.
noun
oppression; bondage; yoke; (figurative) shackles
neutralA very common metaphor for any form of oppressive constraint, whether physical, mental, social, political, or spiritual.
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
zhèng挣
tuō脱
fēng封
jiàn建
sī思
xiǎng想
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
We must break free from the shackles of feudalistic thinking.
Guò过
dù度
de的
zhài债
wù务
chéng成
le了
tā他
jīng精
shén神
shàng上
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
Excessive debt has become a mental burden and a form of bondage for him.
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Tā她
zhōng终
yú于
bǎi摆
tuō脱
le了
nà那
duàn段
bù不
xìng幸
hūn婚
yīn姻
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
She finally freed herself from the shackles of that unhappy marriage.
Tā他
gǎn感
dào到
chuán传
tǒng统
lǐ礼
jiào教
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
wú无
xíng形
de的
jiā枷
suǒ锁
。
He feels that traditional rites and teachings are a kind of invisible yoke.