Definitions
to extract; to pluck; to seize
Etymology phono-semantic
hand
Semantic:
手
About
A phono-semantic compound, 搴 (qiān) is anchored by the semantic radical 手 (shǒu) at its base, indicating an action performed by the hand. The upper portion serves as the phonetic component, guiding its pronunciation. The character describes the deliberate physical act of pulling, plucking, or hoisting something upward, like raising a flag, drawing up a sail, or pulling back a curtain. Due to this specific sense of lifting, its usage is predominantly found in formal, literary, or poetic contexts, where it conveys elegant or significant movements rather than ordinary manual tasks.