拘束

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 拘束 (こうそく) is an action noun for restricting a person’s freedom of movement physically or situationally.
• Basic usage: 容疑者を拘束した actively describes police detaining a fleeing suspect, while 会議に拘束されて figuratively describes being tied up by a long meeting.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Detention and being tied up by time
  • 容疑者を拘束する physically detains a person, whereas 会議に拘束される figuratively has a meeting consume one’s time. The latter is not police custody.