錠
lock, fetters, shackles
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
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.