Learn a Chinese Character - 牢

1. Character Basics

Radical: 宀 (roof radical)

Stroke Count: 7

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: láo (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Prison; jail; stable; pen; cage; firm; secure; solid; strong; reliable; to imprison; to jail

4. Common Words

• 监狱 (jiānyù) - prison; jail
• 牢房 (láofáng) - prison cell; jail cell
• 牢固 (láogù) - firm; secure; solid
• 牢记 (láojì) - to remember firmly; to keep in mind
• 牢笼 (láolóng) - cage; trap; confinement
• 坐牢 (zuòláo) - to be in prison; to serve a prison sentence
• 监牢 (jiānláo) - prison; jail
• 亡羊补牢 (wángyáng bǔláo) - to mend the fold after the sheep have been stolen (idiom); to take remedial action after a loss

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "牢" has two main meanings: related to imprisonment/jails and related to being firm/secure. It can be used as both a noun and an adjective.

Grammar Patterns:

• 监/牢: 监牢 (prison)
• 牢 + 房: 牢房 (prison cell)
• 牢 + 固: 牢固 (firm; secure)
• 牢 + 记: 牢记 (to remember firmly)
• 牢 + 笼: 牢笼 (cage; trap)
• 坐 + 牢: 坐牢 (to be in prison)
• 作名词: 他被关进了牢 (He was put in prison)
• 作形容词: 这个结构很牢 (This structure is very solid)

6. Cultural Background

The character "牢" has a long history in Chinese culture, with its original meaning related to animal enclosures. Over time, its meaning expanded to include human imprisonment and the concept of being firm or secure.

In ancient China, prisons were known as "牢" and played important roles in the legal system. The character appears in many historical texts and legal documents.

The idiom "亡羊补牢" (wángyáng bǔláo), meaning "to mend the fold after the sheep have been stolen," is a well-known Chinese idiom that teaches the importance of taking remedial action, even after a loss has occurred.

The character's structure, with "宀" (roof) over "牛" (cow), reflects its original meaning of a cowshed or animal pen, showing how the character's form relates to its meaning.

In modern Chinese, the character is still widely used in both literal and metaphorical senses, from describing physical prisons to expressing the idea of something being firmly established.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "牢" (láo) consists of two parts:

• The radical "宀" (roof radical) on top, indicating a structure or enclosure
• The component "牛" (cow) at the bottom

To remember the character, think of it as "a roof (宀) over a cow (牛)," representing a cowshed or animal pen, which is its original meaning. This can then be extended to remember its other meanings related to enclosures like prisons and the concept of being firm or secure.

Associate the character with the common idiom "亡羊补牢" (wángyáng bǔláo) to help remember both the character and an important Chinese idiom.

Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help remember its structure and stroke count.

Note that the character has both concrete meanings (prison, stable) and abstract meanings (firm, secure), so try to learn examples of both uses.