The word "strangle" (jiǎo) is formed with the following words: angina, strangulation, strangled, strangled face, strangled to death,, gallows, winch, winch, strangled, strangled at the heart, strangling, noose, nooses, hooks and strangles.

The character for strangulation (pinyin: jiǎo) is found in the small seal script of the Shuowen Jiezi (说文解字), but was created no later than the Qin dynasty. The original meaning of the word "twist" was a rope made by intersecting and twisting fine threads. Later, it was extended to twisting and wringing. In ancient times, it also referred to the punishment of strangling a prisoner with a rope, i.e. strangulation.