钳

鉗

qián

甘 + 钅

Definitions

qián pincers; pliers; tongs; claw (of animal); to grasp with pincers; to pinch; to clamp; to restrain; to restrict; to gag

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甘 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鉗.

Semantic: 钅 Phonetic: 甘

About

The traditional form 鉗 is a phono-semantic compound. Its radical 釒 (jīn, metal) indicates the semantic category of metallic tools, while the phonetic component 甘 (gān) suggests the pronunciation. The character fundamentally refers to gripping hand tools like pliers or tongs. Extending from this concrete meaning, it also functions as a verb meaning to clamp, grasp firmly, or metaphorically, to suppress or restrict someone’s speech or actions.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我用钳子夹钉子。

Wǒ yòng qiánzi jiā dīngzi.

I use pliers to clamp a nail.

工人用钳子修理机器。

Gōngrén yòng qiánzi xiūlǐ jīqì.

Workers use pliers to repair the machine.

他从工具箱里拿出钳子。

Tā cóng gōngjù xiāng lǐ ná chū qiánzi.

He took out pliers from the toolbox.

爸爸是一名熟练的钳工。

Bàba shì yī míng shúliàn de qiángōng.

Dad is a skilled fitter.

政府钳制了反对声音。

Zhèngfǔ qiánzhì le fǎnduì shēngyīn.

The government clamped down on opposing voices.

卡钳用于测量车轮的尺寸。

Kǎqián yòng yú cèliáng chēlún de chǐcùn.

Calipers are used to measure the size of wheels.

经济制裁钳制了该国的发展。

Jīngjì zhìcái qiánzhì le gāi guó de fāzhǎn.

Economic sanctions restrained the country's development.

舆论的压力像钳子一样钳制着他的行动。

Yúlùn de yālì xiàng qiánzi yīyàng qiánzhì zhe tā de xíngdòng.

The pressure of public opinion clamps down on his actions like pliers.

Related Characters

Component: 甘

Component: 钅

钳