刑具 (xíng jù) — instruments of punishment or torture (e.g., man…

Definition

noun

instruments of punishment or torture (e.g., manacles, whips, racks, gallows)

Measure word · 件

刑具。
Bó wù guǎn lǐ zhǎn shì le xǔ duō gǔ dài de xíng jù.
Many ancient instruments of punishment are displayed in the museum.
刑具。
Zhè xiē xíng jù shì dāng shí yòng lái chéng fá fàn rén de.
These torture instruments were used to punish prisoners in those days.
刑具。
Lì shǐ shū shàng miáo shù guò gè zhǒng cán kù de xíng jù.
History books describe various cruel instruments of punishment.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

刑xíngpunishment

具jùinstrument

刑 refers to punishment and 具 to instruments, so 刑具 names tools used for punishing or torturing.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刑 puts 刀 (knife) beside 井. The knife part shows the punishment idea, and 井 gives the sound.

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

具 pairs 廾 (two hands) with 鼎 (a cauldron), showing hands working with a cauldron to prepare food.

Appears in