HSK · Level 90
45 words
Chinese word
牢牢
Pronunciation
Pinyinláo láo
Meaning
- adverbfirmly
Example
他把门牢牢关上了。tā bǎ mén láo láo guān shàng le
He closed the door firmly.
More examples
领导牢牢控制着局面。líng dǎo láo láo kòng zhì zhe jú miàn
The leader has the situation firmly under control.
Core concept
A firm hold that keeps a thing or relationship from slipping, loosening, or changing.
Common phrases
牢牢关上láo láo guān shàng
close tightly
牢牢锁住láo láo suǒ zhù
lock tightly
牢牢维护láo láo wéi hù
firmly maintain
Similar words
紧紧地jín jǐn dì: With a tight grip or closure that prevents movement.
牢固地láo gù dì: Securely enough to withstand force without breaking or shifting.
稳稳地wén wěn dì: Steadily and securely, without shaking or losing balance.
Definition in Chinese
表示把某物或某种关系保持得非常稳固、不容易松动或改变，常用作副词，用以强调稳固性或确定性。biǎo shì bǎ mǒu wù huò móu zhǒng guān xì bǎo chí de fēi cháng wěn gù bù róng yì sōng dòng huò gǎi biàn cháng yòng zuò fù cí yòng yǐ qiáng diào wěn gù xìng huò què dìng xìng
Word origin
The character 牢 (láo, "secure") originally referred to an enclosure that kept animals in place, and 牢牢 (láoláo, "firmly") repeats its later sense of secure firmness to intensify it.
Usage tips
- With completed actions, 牢牢 (láoláo, "firmly") often appears before the verb and near a result complement, a useful pattern for everyday Chinese word order.