锁链 (suǒliàn): chains

Measure Word

一条锁链 tiáo

囚犯身上绑着锁链。

Qiúfàn shēnshàng bǎng zhe suǒliàn.

The prisoner was bound with chains.

他们挣脱了锁链。

Tāmen zhēngtuō le suǒliàn.

They broke free from the chains.

usage

Often used figuratively to mean anything that restricts freedom: 打破封建的锁链 (break the chains of feudalism).

锁 suǒ

链 liàn