Chinese word

钻

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuān

Meaning

  • verbcrawl into

Example

小猫钻进了箱子。xiǎo māo zuān jìn le xiāng zi

The kitten crawled into the box.

Illustration for 钻 (crawl into)

More examples

记者趁空档从人群中钻进了后台。jì zhě chèn kòng dàng cóng rén qún zhōng zuān jìn le hòu tái

Taking advantage of a brief opening, the reporter slipped through the crowd into the backstage area.

Core concept

Move from outside to inside by making a way through a tight barrier or opening.

Common phrases

  • 钻进箱子zuān jìn xiāng zi

    squeeze into the box

  • 钻进洞里zuān jìn dòng lǐ

    squeeze into the hole

Similar words

进入jìn rù: To move from outside a place or area to the inside.
挤进jǐ jìn: To squeeze into a crowded or narrow place by pushing past obstacles.
钻进zuān jìn: To work a pointed end or the body through a small opening and go inside.
溜进liū jìn: To slip into a place secretly so that people do not notice.

Definition in Chinese

用尖锐或细长的器具穿入另一物体，或把身体或东西从窄处钻入，动作上强调穿透或挤入并进入内部的过程。yòng jiān ruì huò xì cháng de qì jù chuān rù lìng yí wù tǐ huò bǎ shēn tǐ huò dōng xī cóng zhǎi chù zuān rù dòng zuò shàng qiáng diào chuān tòu huò jǐ rù bìng jìn rù nèi bù de guò chéng

Word origin

钻 (zuān, "to bore or press into") combines a metal-tool element with a sound element, reflecting its early sense of boring through material before that sense extended to entering narrow spaces.

Usage tips

  • The verb presents entry as meeting resistance, so it fits crowded gaps and tight spaces better than ordinary verbs for simply entering.

Other meanings

  • squeeze intoverb

Opposites

  • 钻出zuān chūcrawl outverb

Related words

Word lists with this word