掣 (chè) — to pull, to tug, to draw

Definition

掣 (chè) means 'to pull' — usually something held back, like reins or a brake. Often appears in set phrases such as 牵掣 ('to hold back, restrain') and 掣动 ('to apply, engage').

verb
to pullto tugto draw
Easily confused

Examples

  • 掣，。
    Tā yòng lì qiān chè shéng suǒ, shéng zi jiù duàn le.
    He forcefully pulled the rope, and it broke.
  • 掣，。
    Tā qīng qīng qiān chè le yí xià chuāng lián, fáng jiān àn le xià lái.
    She gently pulled the curtain, and the room darkened.
  • 掣，。
    Sī jī tū rán chè dòng shā chē, chē zi tíng zhù le.
    The driver suddenly applied the brake, and the car stopped.

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
制
制zhì掣chè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

掣 is built from 手 (hand) plus 制, which gives its sound.

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