Meaning and Usage
The word 檻 (おり) primarily refers to a physical enclosure such as a cage or pen used to confine animals or people. It can mean a zoo cage, a pen for animals, or a jail cell for prisoners.
Common Contexts
You will often see 檻 used when talking about animals in captivity, such as lions or birds in a zoo. It is also used metaphorically or literally for prison cells, emphasizing confinement.
Collocations and Patterns
- 檻の中 (おりのなか): inside the cage or cell
- 檻に入れる (おりにいれる): to put someone or something into a cage or jail cell
- 檻から逃げる (おりからにげる): to escape from a cage
Register and Nuance
檻 is a somewhat formal or literary word compared to more casual words like ケージ (cage). It carries a strong image of confinement and restriction. When used for people, it often implies imprisonment or captivity.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 檻 with ケージ, which is more commonly used for pet cages or small animal enclosures. 檻 often implies a larger, stronger, or more serious enclosure, especially in formal or written contexts.