牢牢
láo láo · HSK 7
firmly
🐂 牢 = roof over a cow = a secure cattle pen; doubled 牢牢 means held firmly
牢 stems from 宀 (roof) above 牛 (cow), an enclosed pen that keeps livestock secure. Reduplicating it to 牢牢 intensifies the sense into firmly or safely, the way you grip something so it cannot slip.
牢 — roof 宀 + ox 牛
Originally a pictograph showing an ox (牛) penned under a roof or enclosure (宀), depicting a livestock pen or stable. From 'animal pen' it extended to mean 'prison' (a place of confinement) and then 'firm, secure, sturdy' — the sense of something solidly enclosed.
牢 — roof 宀 + ox 牛
Originally a pictograph showing an ox (牛) penned under a roof or enclosure (宀), depicting a livestock pen or stable. From 'animal pen' it extended to mean 'prison' (a place of confinement) and then 'firm, secure, sturdy' — the sense of something solidly enclosed.