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牵引 (qiān yǐn) — to tow, to haul, to pull (physically); to involve, to implicate (in trouble)

Definition

Literary/written verb for physical towing or for being drawn into trouble. Distinguish the physical sense (to tow/haul) from the figurative sense (to involve, implicate).

verb
to towto haulto pull (physically)to involveto implicate (in trouble)

Examples

  • 牵引。
    Zhè liàng kǎ chē kě yǐ qiān yǐn yí liàng tuō chē.
    This truck can tow a trailer.
  • 牵引。
    Tā bù xiǎo xīn bèi qiān yǐn jìn le má fan.
    He was carelessly implicated in trouble.
  • 牵引。
    Zhè ge àn zi qiān yǐn le xǔ duō rén.
    This case involved many people.

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qiānpull
引yǐndraw

牵 and 引 both mean pulling, so together they describe towing or hauling.

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 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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