拉线 (lā xiàn) — to act as a go-between, to pull strings (in introductions, business, or matchmaking); to infiltrate a spy, to set up an espionage network

Definition

拉线 literally "pull a string" — it means using personal connections to introduce people, arrange deals, or find jobs (go-between, pull strings). The espionage sense (planting a spy) is rare and contextual.

verb
to act as a go-betweento pull strings (in introductions, business, or matchmaking)to infiltrate a spyto set up an espionage network

Examples

  • 拉线，。
    Tā jīng cháng wèi gōng sī lā xiàn, cù chéng hé zuò.
    He often acts as a go-between for the company to facilitate cooperation.
  • ，。
    Péng you gěi wǒ lā le yí cì xiàn, wǒ cái zhǎo dào zhè fèn gōng zuò.
    A friend pulled strings for me once, so I found this job.
  • 拉线。
    Qíng bào jī gòu zài dí duì guó chéng gōng lā xiàn.
    The intelligence agency successfully infiltrated a spy in the enemy country.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

拉lāpull
线xiànline

拉 means to pull, and 线 means a line or thread; together they suggest pulling a line to connect people.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì拉lā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Open 拉 →

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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