Chinese word

俘虏

Pronunciation

Pinyinfú lǔ

Meaning

  • nounprisoner

Example

他们把俘虏带到了临时营地。tā men bǎ fú lǔ dài dào le lín shí yíng dì

They took the prisoner to the temporary camp.

Illustration for 俘虏 (prisoner)

More examples

战斗结束后，军方宣布释放了部分俘虏。zhàn dòu jié shù hòu jūn fāng xuān bù shì fàng le bù fèn fú lǔ

After the battle ended, the military announced the release of some prisoners.

Core concept

A wartime captive whose defining status is being under the control of an enemy force.

Common phrases

  • 释放俘虏shì fàng fú lǔ

    release prisoners

  • 交换俘虏jiāo huàn fú lǔ

    exchange prisoners

  • 关押俘虏guān yā fú lǔ

    detain prisoners

  • 营救俘虏yíng jiù fú lǔ

    rescue prisoners

Similar words

战俘zhàn fú: A military service member captured and held by the opposing side during a war.
人质rén zhì: A person held to force others to meet a demand or agree to an exchange.
囚犯qiú fàn: A person kept in prison after being found guilty of a crime.

Definition in Chinese

在战争或武装冲突中被敌方控制、拘押的人员，强调其作为战时被捕者的身份。zài zhàn zhēng huò wǔ zhuāng chōng tū zhōng bèi dí fāng kòng zhì jū yā de rén yuán qiáng diào qí zuò wéi zhàn shí bèi bǔ zhě de shēn fèn

Word origin

The compound 俘虏 (fúlǔ, "prisoner") joins 俘 (fú, "capture") with 虏 (lǔ, "captive"), making capture and continued enemy control central to its meaning.

Usage tips

  • English can use "prisoner" for many kinds of detained people, but this Chinese word strongly points to armed conflict rather than ordinary law enforcement.

Other meanings

  • captureverb

Word lists with this word