坐牢 (zuò láo) — to serve a prison sentence, to be imprisoned

Definition

坐牢 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to be imprisoned' or 'to serve a prison sentence'. The two characters can split to insert duration, frequency, or aspect markers between 坐 and 牢 — for example, 坐了三年牢 ('served three years in prison'), 坐过牢 ('has been in prison before'). The person imprisoned is always the subject; 牢 itself cannot take a direct object.

v.o.

to serve a prison sentenceto be imprisoned

Examples

。
Tā yīnwèi tōu dōngxi zuò le sān nián láo.
He served three years in prison for stealing.
。
Tā cónglái méiyǒu zuò guò láo.
He has never been in prison before.
坐牢，。
Tā zhèngzài zuò láo, bù néng jiàn jiārén.
He is currently serving a prison sentence and cannot see his family.

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