牢固 (láo gù) — firm, secure

Definition

Describes something physically or structurally 'firm and secure' — a foundation, a knot, a grasp, even an abstract bond like a relationship. Focuses on how tightly things hold; 坚固 emphasizes hardness/solidity of material.

adjective
firmsecure

Examples

  • 牢固。
    Zhè zuò dà lóu de jī chǔ fēi cháng láo gù.
    The foundation of this building is very firm.
  • 牢固。
    Tā men zhī jiān de guān xì hěn láo gù.
    The relationship between them is very solid.
  • 牢固。
    Zhè ge shéng zi xì dé bú gòu láo gù.
    This rope is not tied firmly enough.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

牢láofirm
固gùsolid

牢 and 固 both mean firm, so together they describe something solid and secure.

Characters in this word

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

  • 宀宀miánpen; animal yard
  • 牛牛niúcow

牢 places 牛, a cow, under 宀, a pen or animal yard.

Open 牢 →

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
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ固gù
Same sound today

固 combines 囗, which relates to the meaning, with 古, which gives the sound.

Open 固 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Texture & Quality

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.