拘束

jūshù

adjective HSK 7 #14,180

Meanings

1 constrained; ill at ease; uncomfortable
2 to restrain; to restrict

Characters

to restrain; to constrain

to bind; to tie up

Restrained and bound — feeling stiff or uncomfortable.

Examples

别拘束，就像在自己家一样。

Bié jūshù, jiù xiàng zài zìjǐ jiā yīyàng.

Don't be shy — make yourself at home.

他在陌生人面前很拘束。

Tā zài mòshēngrén miànqián hěn jūshù.

He feels very uncomfortable around strangers.

不要拘束孩子的想象力。

Bùyào jūshù háizi de xiǎngxiànglì.

Don't restrain children's imagination.

Tips

usage

拘束 has two uses: (1) as an adjective meaning 'uncomfortable/stiff' in social situations (别拘束), and (2) as a verb meaning 'to restrict/constrain' (拘束自由). The adjective use is more common in daily life.

memory

Both characters mean 'restrain/bind' — imagine being tied up (束) and held back (拘), making you feel stiff and awkward at a party.

Stroke Order

拘 jū

束 shù