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牵线搭桥 (qiān xiàn dā qiáo) — (idiom) to act as a go-between; to mediate; to bring two parties together

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to act as a go-between / bring two parties together' — used for matchmaking AND for brokering deals, partnerships, or cooperation.

idiom
to act as a go-betweento mediateto bring two parties together

Examples

  • 牵线搭桥，。
    Tā jīng cháng wèi péng you qiān xiàn dā qiáo, cù chéng le hǎo jǐ duì hūn yīn.
    He often acts as a go-between for friends, helping to bring about several marriages.
  • 牵线搭桥，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī tōng guò qiān xiàn dā qiáo, chéng gōng zhǎo dào le tóu zī huǒ bàn.
    This company successfully found an investment partner through matchmaking.
  • ，牵线搭桥。
    Zài shāng yè hé zuò zhōng, qiān xiàn dā qiáo de jué sè fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    In business cooperation, the role of a go-between is very important.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

牵线pull a thread
牵qiānpull线xiànthread
动宾Verb + object
搭桥build a bridge
搭dābuild桥qiáobridge
动宾Verb + object

牵 pulls a thread, 搭 builds a bridge; together they suggest connecting two parties.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 牽; 牵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúcow, ox
Sound part声符shēngfú
玄
玄xuán牽qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 牽 is built from 玄 and 牛, an ox, giving the picture of leading an ox by hand. The simplified 牵 is a later shorthand.

Open 牵 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
荅
荅dá搭dā
Same sound today

搭 is built from 扌, a hand, and 荅, which gives the sound. The hand part points to actions done with the hand.

Open 搭 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
喬
喬qiáo橋qiáo
Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.

Open 桥 →
Appears in
Friends & SocialIdioms & Set Phrases

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