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出狱 (chū yù) — to be released from prison

Definition

To be released from prison after serving a sentence (e.g. 他去年出狱了). Pairs with 入狱 ('to be imprisoned') — 入 focuses on entering, 出 on leaving.

verb
to be released from prison

Examples

  • 出狱。
    Tā qù nián chū yù le.
    He was released from prison last year.
  • 。
    Tā chū le yù jiù qù zhǎo gōng zuò.
    As soon as he got out of prison, he went to look for a job.
  • 出狱。
    Hěn duō fàn rén chū yù hòu hěn nán zhǎo dào gōng zuò.
    Many prisoners find it hard to get a job after being released.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

出chūleave
狱yùprison

出 means to leave, and 狱 is prison, so 出狱 means to be released from prison.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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 →
Appears in
Crime & Police

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