牵 Stroke Order — How to Write 牵
牵 is written in 9 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 大, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
牵 Radical and Character Components
牵 is an ideographic compound. A person 大 pulling an ox 牛 by a rope 冖.
Radical: 大 + 5 more strokes
牵 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- qiān
Meanings of 牵 in Chinese
1
qiān牵
To pull or lead forward; to draw, drag, or tow; also used to mean taking the lead in an initiative or acting as a go-between.
这次活动由他牵头组织。
He took the lead in organizing this event.
To connect, involve, implicate; to be forced or far-fetched (e.g., an explanation or interpretation); to be emotionally entangled.
这个解释有点牵强。
This explanation is a bit far-fetched.
Common Words and Phrases with 牵
1
To hold back or entangle, often preventing free movement or progress.
她对家乡的深厚感情成了她去远方发展的牵绊。
Her deep affection for her hometown became a tie that held her back from developing in a distant place.
2
To involve or entangle, often hindering freedom or movement.
他被许多琐事牵缠，无法集中精力完成主要任务。
He was entangled by many trivial matters, unable to concentrate on completing his main task.
3
To be deeply concerned or worried about someone, especially a loved one.
孩子出门在外，父母总是牵肠挂肚，期盼他们一切顺利平安。
When their children are away from home, parents are always deeply worried and long for their well-being and safety.
4
to involve; to implicate
这起事故牵扯到三辆车，损失不小
This accident involved three cars, and the loss was considerable.
5
To hold up, check, or restrict; to impede free action.
过多的规章制度反而会牵掣企业的发展活力。
Excessive regulations can, on the contrary, hinder the vitality of enterprise development.
6
to affect, influence, or involve broadly; to touch or stir emotions.
小狗的眼神牵动了我内心最柔软的部分。
The puppy's gaze stirred the softest part of my heart.
7
To worry about and miss someone.
他出远门了，家人对他总是充满牵挂
He went on a long trip, and his family is always worried about him and misses him.
8
to worry about; to be concerned about
她虽然身在国外，却总是牵记着家乡的父母。
Although she is abroad, she always keeps her parents back home in mind.
9
to yield to; to accommodate; to make concessions
为了保持团队的和谐，大家有时需要互相牵就一下。
To maintain team harmony, everyone sometimes needs to make concessions to each other.
10
to burden or implicate
他因为要照顾年迈的父母，无法随心所欲地去远方发展，这份牵累让他感到既心疼又无奈。
He couldn't freely pursue opportunities far away because he had to care for his elderly parents; this burden made him feel both heartbroken and helpless.
11
To be connected or involved, often implying implication in a negative or troublesome situation.
这起盗窃案牵连到几名无辜的学生。
This theft case implicated several innocent students.
12
to lead an ox or cow; a type of morning glory (plant); Altair (a star).
农夫在田埂上牵牛，准备耕地
The farmer is leading the ox on the field path, preparing to plow the land.
13
Altair, also known as the Cowherd Star.
在夏天的夜晚，我们很容易在天空中找到明亮的牵牛星。
On summer nights, we can easily spot the bright Altair in the sky.
14
Far-fetched; forced; strained or unconvincing.
他的解释听起来有些牵强，让人难以信服。
His explanation sounds a bit far-fetched and unconvincing.
15
to give a forced interpretation; to make a far-fetched analogy or explanation
为了让自己的理论听起来更有说服力，他常常会牵强附会地引用一些不相关的例子。
To make his theory sound more convincing, he often makes strained attempts to cite irrelevant examples.
More words with 牵
- jū拘qiān牵Restrain, Restrict
- qiān牵yǐn引pull, tow
- qiān牵tóu头lead, spearhead
- qiān牵xiàn线matchmake, broker
- qiān牵shè涉involve, implicate
- qiān牵zhì制restrain, contain
- qiān牵chě扯dào到involve, implicate
- qiān牵niú牛huā花morning glory
- qiān牵shè涉dào到involve, implicate
- shǒu手qiān牵shǒu手holding hands, hand in hand
- qiān牵huí回lead back, pull back
- qiān牵qǐ起take hold, lead
- qiān牵xiàn线dā搭qiáo桥to act as a matchmaker, to serve as a go-between
- shòu受qiān牵lián连implicated, involved
- bèi被qiān牵lián连implicated, involved
- qiān牵luán挛constrain, restrict
- qiān牵lián连dào到implicate, involve
- hù互xiāng相qiān牵zhì制check each other, keep each other in check
- qiān牵chě扯chū出implicate, involve
- qiān牵chě扯jìn进involved in, implicated in
Idioms with 牵
- qiān牵niú牛xià下jǐng井face an intractable problem, feel helpless
- qiān牵xīn心guà挂cháng肠deeply concerned and anxious
- dā搭qiáo桥qiān牵xiàn线act as an intermediary
- hún魂qiān牵mèng梦yíng萦haunted by dreams, longing deeply
- shùn顺shǒu手qiān牵yáng羊take something conveniently and illicitly
- wú无qiān牵wú无guà挂free from worries or burdens
- yī一wú无qiān牵guà挂free from all worldly cares
- qiān牵cháng肠gē割dù肚deeply worried or heartbroken
- qiān牵cháng肠yíng萦xīn心deeply worried or concerned
- qiān牵guǐ鬼shàng上jiàn剑an impossible or daunting task
- qiān牵hé合fù附huì会twist facts to suit a purpose
- qiān牵jīn筋suō缩mài脉muscles tensed, veins constricted
Recommended tools
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Picture Worksheets
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →Questions about 牵
What does 牵 mean in Chinese?
牵 (qiān) means “To pull or lead forward” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 牵?
牵 is pronounced qiān in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 牵 have?
牵 has 9 strokes.
How do you write 牵?
牵 is written in 9 strokes, starting from the radical 大. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 牵?
The radical of 牵 is 大, and 牵 is an ideographic compound.
