拴 (shuān) — to tie up, to fasten, to tether

Definition

拴 (shuān) is a concrete verb meaning to tie up an animal or object so it can't move, often with a rope to a fixed point. 绑 is broader ('bind/restrain' including kidnapping); 系 is lighter, for fastening things like shoes or belts.

verb
to tie upto fastento tether
Easily confused

Examples

  • 拴。
    Tā bǎ mǎ shuān zài le zhù zi páng biān.
    He tied the horse to the post.
  • 拴，。
    Nǐ xiān bǎ xíng li shuān hǎo, bié sàn le.
    First tie up the luggage well so it doesn't come apart.
  • 拴，。
    Yí dìng yào bǎ mǎ shuān jǐn, bù rán tā huì pǎo diào.
    You must tie the horse tightly, otherwise it will run away.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
全
全quán拴shuān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拴 combines 手 (hand), pointing to actions done with the hand, with 全, which gives the sound.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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