noun
shackles; fetters; handcuffs; restraint
Physical restraints used to bind a person's limbs, such as shackles, fetters, or handcuffs. Also used figuratively for anything that restricts freedom.
囚人は足に枷をはめられていた。
The prisoner had shackles on his legs.
古い慣習が彼の行動の枷になっている。
Old customs are a restraint on his actions.
noun
bond; tie; binding relationship
Refers to emotional or social bonds that tie people together, often with a nuance of obligation or constraint. Commonly used for family ties or relationships that feel like a burden.
家族の枷から逃れたいと思うこともある。
Sometimes I want to escape from family ties.
彼は友情の枷に縛られていると感じていた。
He felt bound by the ties of friendship.
束縛 is a more formal and abstract term for restraint or restriction, often used in legal or psychological contexts. 枷 is more concrete and can refer to physical shackles or emotional bonds with a stronger sense of burden.
手錠 specifically means handcuffs, while 枷 is a broader term for any kind of shackles or fetters, including leg irons.
The kanji 枷 originally referred to a wooden yoke or cangue used as a punishment device. The reading かせ is of native Japanese origin. The figurative sense of emotional bonds developed from the physical restraint meaning.