虏

虜

lǔ

力 + 虍

Definitions

lǔ prisoner of war; to capture; to take prisoner; (old) northern barbarian; slave

Etymology

Simplified form of 虜. Phonosemantic compound. 男 represents the meaning and 虍 represents the sound.

Semantic: 力 Phonetic: 虍

About

The traditional form 虜 is a phono-semantic compound: the tiger radical 虍 (hū) appears at the top, the component 毌 (guàn) is in the middle, and the strength radical 力 (lì) is at the bottom. In the simplified character 虏, the middle component is omitted, leaving only 虍 above 力. Together, the tiger and strength radicals evoke concepts of force, violent capture, and overpowering an opponent. The core meaning refers to taking enemies captive in war, enslaving a defeated populace, or making someone a prisoner. It can also denote the captives themselves, prisoners, hostages, or those held by coercive force.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们俘虏了一个敌人。

Wǒmen fúlǔ le yīgè dírén.

We captured an enemy.

他们在战斗中被俘虏了。

Tāmen zài zhàndòu zhōng bèi fúlǔ le.

They were captured in battle.

俘虏们被关在营地里。

Fúlǔ men bèi guān zài yíngdì lǐ.

The captives are imprisoned in the camp.

历史书中记载了那次虏掠事件。

Lìshǐ shū zhōng jìzǎi le nà cì lǔlüè shìjiàn.

The history book records that plundering event.

为了解救被虏的同胞，他们策划了一次行动。

Wèile jiějiù bèi lǔ de tóngbāo, tāmen cèhuà le yī cì xíngdòng.

In order to rescue the captured compatriots, they planned an operation.

虽然敌人虏走了粮食，但村民们没有屈服。

Suīrán dírén lǔ zǒu le liángshí, dàn cūnmín men méiyǒu qūfú.

Although the enemy captured the food, the villagers did not yield.

在商业竞争中，俘虏客户的心是关键。

Zài shāngyè jìngzhēng zhōng, fúlǔ kèhù de xīn shì guānjiàn.

In business competition, capturing the hearts of customers is key.

通过对虏获文件的解密，情报部门获得了重要信息。

Tōngguò duì lǔhuò wénjiàn de jiěmì, qíngbào bùmén huòdé le zhòngyào xìnxī.

By decrypting the captured documents, the intelligence department obtained important information.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 力

Component: 虍

虏