handcuffs; hand shackles
Physical restraints for the hands, used in historical or penal contexts. Modern Japanese more commonly uses 手錠 (てじょう) for handcuffs.
restrictions; restraints
Figurative use for something that binds or limits freedom, like a metaphorical shackle. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
The prisoner was escorted with hand shackles on.
Old customs have become shackles on reform.
manacles; shackles; fetters
Standard kanji spelling for handcuffs or hand shackles.
Mixed kana spelling that avoids the uncommon kanji 枷.
Rare kanji form; 桎 is an uncommon character for shackles.
Rare kanji form; also read しゅかい in some contexts.
Single-character form; very rare and literary.
Compound of 手 (て, 'hand') and 枷 (かせ, 'shackles'). The reading てがせ is a voiced variant. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since classical Japanese.