In Chinese culture, 束缚 (shùfù) often taps into the tension between collective responsibility and individual desire. While Western cultures, particularly American culture, heavily prize individualism and “breaking free,” traditional Chinese society has long emphasized group harmony, filial piety, and adherence to established social structures. A useful comparison is the English phrase “being tied down.” One can be “tied down” by a job or a mortgage. However, 束缚 (shùfù) carries a deeper, often more systemic weight. It can refer to the immense pressure to conform to the expectations of family and society, which are seen not just as personal choices but as cultural duties. For example, a young person might feel 束缚 by the expectation to marry early, have children, and care for their parents, even if it conflicts with their personal career ambitions. Therefore, when someone uses 束缚 (shùfù), they are often expressing a powerful sense of being trapped by forces larger than themselves—be it tradition (`传统`), fate (`命运`), or a rigid system (`体制`). The desire to `摆脱束缚 (bǎituō shùfù)`—to break free from these bonds—is a common theme in modern Chinese literature and film.
束缚 (shùfù) is a fairly formal and literary word. You're more likely to encounter it in writing, news, or serious discussions than in casual, everyday chat. Its connotation is almost always negative.
A common mistake for learners is to use 束缚 (shùfù) when a more neutral or common word like `限制 (xiànzhì)` is more appropriate.