TongTong
Sign in

牵扯 (qiān chě) — to involve (in a matter or situation); to implicate (usually in something negative); to be interrelated; to be connected

Definition

牵扯 emphasizes entanglement — being drawn into or tied up with something, often negatively. Compared with 相关/关联 (neutral 'related'), and 涉及 (touching on a topic), it suggests stronger, messier involvement.

verb
to involve (in a matter or situation)to implicate (usually in something negative)to be interrelatedto be connected

Examples

  • 牵扯。
    Zhè ge àn zi qiān chě dào hǎo jǐ gè bù mén.
    This case involves several departments.
  • 牵扯。
    Tā bù xiǎng bèi qiān chě jìn nà chǎng jiū fēn.
    He doesn't want to be implicated in that dispute.
  • ，牵扯。
    Zhè liǎng gè wèn tí kàn sì wú guān, shí zé hù xiāng qiān chě.
    These two issues seem unrelated but are actually interconnected.

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; tug
扯chěpull; tug

牵 and 扯 both describe pulling or tugging, extended to mean things are pulled into a connection or involvement.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
止
止zhǐ扯chě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

扯 has 手 (hand) and 止; the hand part shows it is about hand actions, while 止 gives the sound.

Open 扯 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.