Definition

1. Noun:

   • Cangue and stocks: A term referring to ancient punishment instruments used to shackle and publicly humiliate prisoners. The "gông" is a large, heavy wooden board locked around the neck, while the "cùm" are stocks for securing the ankles or wrists.

2. Verb (figurative):

   • To shackle, to chain, to enslave: To deprive someone of freedom, to oppress, or to impose severe restrictions, akin to being placed in physical shackles. It describes a state of bondage or subjugation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Tù nhân bị đeo gông cùm. (The prisoner was placed in cangue and stocks.)
  • Gông cùm là một hình phạt khắc nghiệt thời phong kiến. (The cangue and stocks were a harsh punishment in feudal times.)

• Verb:

  • Không gì có thể gông cùm được ý chí của con người ấy. (Nothing can chain the will of that man.)
  • Họ bị gông cùm bởi những tập tục lạc hậu. (They are shackled by backward customs.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in literary and historical contexts to evoke imagery of physical restraint and loss of liberty. Its verbal use is almost exclusively metaphorical in modern language, describing psychological, social, or political oppression.

Variants and Related Words

• Gông (noun): Specifically refers to the cangue (the neck shackle).
• Cùm (noun): Specifically refers to the stocks (the leg or wrist shackles).
• Xiềng xích (noun): Chains, fetters; a more general term for shackles.

Synonyms

• Shackles (noun): Physical restraints for prisoners.
• Fetters (noun): Chains or manacles.
• Enslave (verb): To make someone a slave.
• Oppress (verb): To keep someone in subservience and hardship.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mang gông đeo cùm: To be wearing the cangue and stocks; used figuratively to mean being burdened with heavy responsibility, guilt, or punishment.
  • Anh ta cảm thấy như đang mang gông đeo cùm vì quyết định sai lầm. (He feels as if he is wearing shackles because of his wrong decision.)

1. Cangue and stocks.
2. (b) Slavery
3. Deprive of one's freedom, chain
   • Không gì có thể gông cùm được ý chí của con người ấy
     Nothing can chain the will of that man