锁链 (suǒ liàn) — chain; shackles; fetters | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A physical chain (often figurative: bonds, shackles of a system or habit). More literary than 链子, which is the everyday word for a chain.

noun

chainshacklesfetters

Measure word · 条

Examples

锁链。
Zhè tiáo suǒ liàn shì yòng gāng tiě zuò de.
This chain is made of steel.
锁链。
Fàn rén shǒu shàng dài zhe suǒ liàn.
The prisoner is wearing chains on his hands.
锁链。
Rén men zhōng yú bǎi tuō le jiù zhì dù de suǒ liàn.
People finally got rid of the chains of the old system.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

锁 (lock) and 链 (chain) together refer to a chained restraint.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鎖; 锁 is its simplified writing.

金𧴪鎖

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

𧴪

𧴪𧴪鎖suǒ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鎖 pairs 金 (metal) with a sound component, 𧴪; the simplified 锁 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the original parts.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鏈; 链 is its simplified writing.

金連鏈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

連

連lián鏈liàn

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏈 pairs 金 (metal) with 連, which gives the sound; the simplified 链 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical parts.

Appears in

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