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Kotomora

錠

lock, fetters, shackles

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

錠 centers on a metal device that secures or restrains: a lock that keeps things closed, or fetters and shackles that bind movement.

Most common words using 錠

20 of 30
  • 錠じょう

    lock; padlock

  • 錠剤じょうざい

    pill; lozenge; tablet

  • 手錠てじょう
    N1

    handcuffs; manacles

  • 施錠せじょう

    locking

  • 南京錠ナンキンじょう

    padlock

  • 錠前じょうまえ

    lock

  • シリンダー錠シリンダーじょう

    cylinder lock

  • 一錠いちじょう

    one tablet; one pill

  • 健胃錠けんいじょう

    stomach tablet

  • 尾錠びじょう

    buckle

  • 御錠口おじょうぐち

    door separating the inner castle from the outer castle (Edo period)

  • 挿錠さしじょう

    bolt

  • 文字合わせ錠もじあわせじょう

    combination lock

  • 海老錠えびじょう

    lock with a curved shape resembling a shrimp (used for gate bolts)

  • 破錠はじょう

    destroying a lock

  • 糖衣錠とういじょう

    sugar-coated pill

  • 組み合わせ錠くみあわせじょう

    combination lock

  • 膣錠ちつじょう

    vaginal tablet

  • 舌下錠ぜっかじょう

    sublingual tablet

  • 補助錠ほじょじょう

    auxiliary lock; supplementary lock

Explore all words using 錠 →

Study

Etymology

錠 combines 金 (metal) with 定, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of fixing or securing something in place. The lock and shackle meanings follow naturally from a metal object that holds things fast.

Meaning mnemonic

The metal radical 金 on the left suggests something made of metal. The right side 定 looks like a roof over a person, giving the idea of something fixed in place. Together, 錠 is a metal device that fixes things shut or holds them still: a lock or shackles.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョウ, imagine a giant metal lock on a door, and you say 'Joe, lock it!' Joe -> ジョウ, and the metal lock clicks shut.