锁

鎖/鎻

suǒ

钅 + 𭕆

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

suǒ (verb,noun) to lock; lock

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 𭕆 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鎖.

Semantic: 钅 Phonetic: ⺌

About

锁 is a phono-semantic compound and the simplified form of 鎖. The semantic component 钅 (simplified from 金) indicates a metal object, while the phonetic 𭕆 (simplified from 𧴪) supplies the sound. Originally it referred to physical locking devices: padlocks, locks, and chains for securing doors or binding prisoners. From there the meaning broadened to the action of locking or fastening something shut, and later developed figurative senses such as confining, sealing off an area, or knitting the brows in a frown of worry or concentration.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我锁上了车门。

Wǒ suǒ shàng le chē mén.

I locked the car door.

请记得锁门。

Qǐng jìde suǒ mén.

Please remember to lock the door.

他把钥匙锁在屋里了。

Tā bǎ yàoshi suǒ zài wū li le.

He locked the keys in the house.

这个锁需要换新的。

Zhège suǒ xūyào huàn xīn de.

This lock needs to be replaced with a new one.

锁屏密码我忘记了。

Suǒ píng mìmǎ wǒ wàngjì le.

I forgot the lock screen password.

她用锁链把自行车锁住了。

Tā yòng suǒliàn bǎ zìxíngchē suǒ zhù le.

She used a chain to lock the bicycle.

系统已经锁定了他的账户。

Xìtǒng yǐjīng suǒ dìng le tā de zhànghù.

The system has locked his account.

为了防止盗窃，他们安装了高级锁具。

Wèile fángzhǐ dàoqiè, tāmen ānzhuāng le gāojí suǒjù.

To prevent theft, they installed high-grade locks.

Related Characters

Component: 钅

Component: 𭕆

锁