牢 (láo) — prison; firm, sturdy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Short form used with 固 in 牢固 (firm/sturdy) — 比坚固 more everyday. As a noun, 牢 means prison; 监狱 is the formal, written word for the same place.

prisonfirmsturdy

Measure word · 座

牢。
Tā bèi guān jìn le láo.
He was locked up in prison.
。
Zhè bǎ yǐ zi hěn láo gù.
This chair is very sturdy.
。
Nóng mín xiū jiàn de niú lán hěn láo gù.
The cowshed the farmer built is very sturdy.

Compound ideograph

六书liùshū

会意huìyì

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

宀牛牢

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

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