Definition
迁 (qiān) means 'to move, relocate' — it's used for changing one's residence, capital, or population on a significant scale, stronger than the general 移 (yí) which simply shifts position. It can also mean 'to be promoted' (升迁), more formal than 升 (shēng). For migration of groups/animals, use 迁徙 (qiān xǐ).
verb
to moveto relocate (residence, office, capital, etc.)to shiftto change (position, policy, times)to be promotedto advance in rank
Easily confused
- 钱qiánsound-alikemoney
- 前qiánsound-alikefront (location)
- 欠qiànsound-aliketo owe (money, debt, favor, apology)
- 签qiānsound-aliketo sign (one's name on a document)
- 签qiānsound-aliketo sign (one's name); to write brief comments on a document
- 千qiānsound-alikethousand
- 牵qiānsound-aliketo pull, to lead (an animal on a tether)
- 浅qiǎnsound-alikeshallow (of depth)
Examples
- 迁。Tāmen jìhuà míngnián qiān dào xīn bàngōng lóu.They plan to move to the new office building next year.
- ，。shídài biànqiān, kējì búduàn biànhuà.As times shift, technology keeps changing.
- ，。Tā yīn yèjì chūsè, bùjiǔ biàn huòdé shēng qiān.Thanks to his outstanding performance, he was soon promoted.
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