牵

牽

qiān

冖 + 大 + 牛

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

qiān (verb) to lead; to pull (as with a rope or leash)

qiān (verb) to involve; to affect

Etymology

Depicts a person (人) leading an ox (牛) by the nose (自). 人 was later reanalyzed as 大.

About

The character 牵 (traditional 牽) originally depicted a person (人) leading an ox (牛) by the nose (自). Over time, the person element was reanalyzed as 大, giving the simplified form its top component, while the ox radical 牛 remains at the base. This reflects the primary meaning of pulling or leading an animal by a rope, which later expanded to include abstract senses of involving, implicating, or dragging someone into a situation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他牵着狗走路。

Tā qiān zhe gǒu zǒu lù.

He is walking the dog.

这件事牵涉很多人。

Zhè jiàn shì qiān shè hěn duō rén.

This matter involves many people.

我一直牵挂着你。

Wǒ yīzhí qiān guà zhe nǐ.

I have been thinking about you.

火车由机车牵引。

Huǒchē yóu jīchē qiān yǐn.

The train is pulled by a locomotive.

他的故事牵动了我的心。

Tā de gùshi qiān dòng le wǒ de xīn.

His story touched my heart.

她为双方牵线搭桥。

Tā wèi shuāngfāng qiān xiàn dā qiáo.

She acted as a go-between for both parties.

这个决定牵涉到公司的未来。

Zhège juédìng qiān shè dào gōngsī de wèilái.

This decision involves the company's future.

由于政策变动，牵涉到的利益方需要重新协商。

Yóuyú zhèngcè biàndòng, qiān shè dào de lìyì fāng xūyào chóngxīn xiéshāng.

Due to policy changes, the involved parties need to renegotiate.

Related Characters

Component: 冖

Component: 大

Component: 牛

牵