劫狱 (jié yù) — to break into a prison to rescue inmates (usually as part of a coordinated plan)

Definition

劫狱 means breaking into a prison by force to free inmates — a coordinated, often violent action. The verb 劫 focuses on seizing or robbing by force, so this is more aggressive than simply 'escaping'.

verb
to break into a prison to rescue inmates (usually as part of a coordinated plan)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 劫狱。
    Tā men jì huà jié yù jiù chū bèi bǔ de tóng huǒ.
    They planned to break into the prison and rescue their arrested accomplice.
  • 劫狱。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì yí gè jié yù de gù shi.
    This movie tells a story about a prison break.
  • ，。
    Tā jié guò liǎng cì yù, dàn dōu méi chéng gōng.
    He attempted to break into prison twice, but neither time succeeded.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

劫jiéseize by force
狱yùprison

劫 (seize by force) and 狱 (prison) describe breaking into a prison to rescue someone.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower, force
Sound part声符shēngfú
去
去qù劫jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

劫 pairs 去, which gives the sound, with 力, meaning power or force.

Open 劫 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獄; 狱 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 獄 pairs 㹜 (two dog forms) with 言 (words), showing dogs barking at each other in a jail with guard dogs. The simplified 狱 is a later shorthand.

Open 狱 →

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