搭线 (dā xiàn) — to make contact, to establish a connection; to act as a go-between/matchmaker (especially in romance)

Definition

Separable verb: 搭 (make) + 线 (thread/line), literally 'to thread a line' — used for connecting people (business contacts, introductions, match-making). Splits as 搭线/搭上了线, often in 给/帮 + person + 搭线.

verb
to make contactto establish a connectionto act as a go-between/matchmaker (especially in romance)

Examples

  • 搭线，。
    Wǒ men tōng guò péng you dā xiàn, zhǎo dào le hé zuò jī huì.
    We made contact through friends and found a cooperation opportunity.
  • ，。
    Tā bāng wǒ dā guò jǐ cì xiàn, dàn dōu méi chéng.
    She helped me as a matchmaker a few times, but none worked out.
  • ，搭线。
    Tā zài zhè háng gān le hěn jiǔ, yǐ jīng dā xiàn hěn duō kè hù le.
    He has been in this industry a long time and has already made contact with many clients.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

搭dāconnect
线xiànline

“搭线” connects a line between people to make contact.

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
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 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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