jyun5 gam3軟禁软禁
Jyutpingjyun5 gam3
Yaleyúhn gam
Definition
To place under house arrest; to restrict someone's movements within a specific area under surveillance.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of forced restriction and loss of personal freedom, often implying a political or high stakes context. While it can be used metaphorically in casual speech to describe being stuck at home by parents or a partner, it retains a heavy, serious tone that makes it sound quite dramatic.
Examples
He was placed under house arrest at home and cannot go anywhere.
Related words
Common phrases
long term house arrest
house arrest at home
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 監禁, which specifically refers to being locked up in a prison or formal detention facility. 軟禁 implies the person is confined to a residence or a specific area rather than a jail cell.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Particle
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
