勒

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

革 (leather) — semantic component

力 (strength; force) — phonetic component

革 indicates leather equipment, especially those used in controlling animals, while 力 supplies both sound and the notion of forceful action.

The earliest meaning of 勒 was "a leather bridle or strap used to control a horse."

From this concrete sense of physical restraint, the character developed abstract meanings related to coercion, compulsion, and enforced control.

勒迫 (늑박) — coercion; oppression

抑勒 (억륵) — suppression by force

羈勒 (기륵) — restraint; control (lit. “halter and bridle”)

勒令 (륵령) — to order forcibly

Related characters:

革 — leather; hide

束 — to bind

制 — to control; regulate

抑 — to suppress

羈 — halter; restraint

In Modern Chinese, 勒 is also used as a phonetic transcription for the SI unit:

勒克斯 (lè kè sī) — lux, unit of illuminance

Here 勒 functions purely phonetically, without semantic involvement.

In classical prose, 勒 often appears in contexts of:

- military discipline

- enforced taxation or labor

- political oppression

「勒兵而進」

“They restrained the troops and advanced.”

Here 勒 refers to strict control or discipline, not merely physical binding.