牵
Character learning workspace

qiān · to drag, to pull, to lead by the hand

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 6Frequency #3847
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 牵

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 牵 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-middle-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

大Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 牵 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 牵

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

qiānWords pronounced qiān
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Example sentences

Notice where 牵 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ bù xiǎng bèi qiān chě dào zhè jiàn shì lǐ.我不想被牵扯到这件事里。

I don't want to be involved in that matter.

Source: Tatoeba #787633 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù zhǐ nǐ, lián wǒ yě bèi qiān lián le.不止你, 连我也被牵连了。

Not only you but also I was involved.

Source: Tatoeba #1448910 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè kě néng tīng qǐ lái qiānqiǎng, dàn què shì gè zhēn shí de wèn tí.这可能听起来牵强,但却是个真实的问题。

It might sound far-fetched, but this is a real problem.

Source: Tatoeba #503096 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā chéng rèn zì jǐ yǔ zhè zōng chǒu wén yǒu qiān lián.他承认自己与这宗丑闻有牵连。

He admits being involved in the scandal.

Source: Tatoeba #1951802 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ kě yǐ qiān zhe nǐ de shǒu ma?我可以牵着你的手吗?

Is it OK if I hold your hand?

Source: Tatoeba #5099415 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tāng mǔ hé mǎ lì shǒu qiān zhuóshǒu, yì qǐ xīn shǎng fēng jǐng.汤姆和玛丽手牵着手,一起欣赏风景。

Tom and Mary admired the scenery as they held hands.

Source: Tatoeba #8798309 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 牵 in context

  1. Say qiān, then recall the core meaning: to drag, to pull, to lead by the hand.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the top-middle-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 牵扯 (qiān chě), meaning “to involve”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 牵 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.