穿针引线 (chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn) — to act as a go-between; to mediate; to make a match

Definition

Literal: thread a needle and pull the thread — idiom for acting as a middleman who connects two parties (e.g. matchmaking, brokering deals).

idiom
to act as a go-betweento mediateto make a match

Examples

  • 穿针引线。
    Tā zài zhè cì hé zuò zhōng qǐ dào le chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn de zuò yòng.
    He played the role of a go-between in this cooperation.
  • 穿针引线，。
    Zhè wèi méi ren shàn yú chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn, cù chéng le bù shǎo hǎo yīn yuán.
    This matchmaker is good at acting as a go-between and has facilitated many good marriages.
  • 穿针引线。
    Liǎng guó zhī jiān de mào yì tán pàn xū yào yǒu rén chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn.
    The trade negotiations between the two countries need someone to act as a mediator.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

穿针thread a needle
穿chuānthread through针zhēnneedle
动宾Verb + object
引线draw a thread
引yǐndraw线xiànthread
动宾Verb + object

穿针 and 引线 describe threading a needle and pulling thread, together suggesting linking two sides.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

穿 puts 穴 (cave) and 牙 (tooth) together to show passing through or penetrating.

Open 穿 →

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

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 →

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