拘

jū
#2,094 most
frequent character
to capture, to restrain, to constrain

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

拘 jū combines 扌, a hand, with 句 jù. A hand seizing someone gives the first meaning, 'arrest, take custody'. From there it grew to 'to restrain, constrain' and 'inflexible'. 句 jù supplies the sound.

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Homophones

居jū
to reside, to be (in a certain position)
据jū
used in 拮据[jie2 ju1]
车jū
war chariot (archaic)

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