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Mandarin · pinyin suō shǒu suō jiǎo

bound hand and foot (idiom); constrained

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Characters in this entry

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手: shǒu · hand
腳: jiǎo · foot; base, leg, foundation
缩: suō · contract, draw in, reduce
脚: jiǎo · leg, foot; base, leg, foundation

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–3–1–3 · suo1 shou3 suo1 jiao3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to curl up one's limbs (due to the cold)
(figurative) to be overcautious and constrained

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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