Chinese word

牵

Pronunciation

Pinyinqiān

Meaning

  • verbhold someone's hand

Example

牵着孩子过马路。qiān zhe hái zi guò mǎ lù

Someone holds the child's hand while crossing the street.

Illustration for 牵 (hold someone's hand)

More examples

电动机可以牵引拖车。diàn dòng jī ké yǐ qiān yǐn tuō chē

An electric motor can tow a trailer.

Core concept

A hand or tether draws someone or something along, with the same sense extending to a link between people or matters.

Common phrases

  • 牵引qiān yǐn

    tow

  • 牵制qiān zhì

    hold in check

Similar words

拉lā: Pulling a person or object toward oneself with force.
带dài: Bringing a person or object with oneself to another place.
拖tuō: Pulling a heavy or resistant object across the ground.
引yǐn: Leading a person or object in a direction through force or influence.

Definition in Chinese

用手或以绳等牵引人或动物，使其随行；在抽象用法上可表示把人或事物牵连或联系在一起。yòng shǒu huò yǐ shéng děng qiān yǐn rén huò dòng wù shǐ qí suí xíng zài chōu xiàng yòng fǎ shàng kě biǎo shì bǎ rén huò shì wù qiān lián huò lián xì zài yì qǐ

Word origin

牵 (qiān, "to lead or draw along") developed from an older character linked to leading an animal by a rope, providing a direct path from physical guidance to abstract connection.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, the verb often appears with an aspect marker for an ongoing state, showing that the physical connection continues during the movement rather than describing one completed pull.

Other meanings

  • pullverb
  • leadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word