牢

láo
#1,694 most
frequent character
fold, pen, prison, jail, durable
noun
adjective

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

牢 shows a cow 牛 inside a building 宀. That picture gave the first meaning, a fenced pen for livestock such as cows, sheep, or horses.

Drawn as: building; cow

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Example Sentences

这个地方是一个旧牢。
zhègè dìfāng shì yígè jiù láo 。
This place is an old prison.
他在牢里待了十年。
tāzài láo lǐ dài le shínián 。
He stayed in jail for ten years.
这种材料非常牢固。
zhèzhǒng cáiliào fēicháng láogù 。
This material is very durable.

Words with similar meanings

监狱jiānyù
prison
监狱 specifically refers to a prison facility, while 牢 can be a general term for jail or prison.
牢固láogù
solid, sturdy
牢固 emphasizes stability and strength, focusing on the durability aspect of 牢.

Homophones

劳láo
to toil, labor, laborer

Words Starting With 牢

牢固láo gù
firm; secure
牢骚láo sāo
discontent; complaint

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