牵 (qiān) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 牵 (qiān) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 牵 (qiān) means "To lead / To pull (by hand or rope)". It is an HSK Level 6 character, with 9 strokes and the radical 大.

Q: How do you write 牵 stroke by stroke?

牵 has 9 strokes. The radical is 大. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 牵 and 奁?

牵 (qiān) and 奁 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 牵?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 大. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 牵?

Common words containing 牵 include: 牵手 (qiān shǒu) — To hold hands; 牵挂 (qiān guà) — To worry about / To be concerned; 牵牛 (qiān niú) — To lead an ox / Morning glory (flower).

How to Write 牵

The character 牵 (qiān) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 大 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

牵 is pronounced qiān in Mandarin Chinese. It means To lead / To pull (by hand or rope).

As an HSK Level 6 character, 牵 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 牵

牵手 qiān shǒu

To hold hands

牵挂 qiān guà

To worry about / To be concerned

牵牛 qiān niú

To lead an ox / Morning glory (flower)

Example Sentences

他们两个在公园牵手。

tā men liǎng gè zài gōng yuán qiān shǒu

The two of them are holding hands in the park.

妈妈非常牵挂你的身体。

mā mā fēi cháng qiān guà nǐ de shēn tǐ

Mom is very concerned about your health.

农民在田里牵牛。

nóng mín zài tián lǐ qiān niú

Farmers are leading an ox in the field.

Similar Characters

奁 lián

奂 huàn

奄 yǎn

Practice Writing 牵 (qiān)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 牵 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 牵

What does 牵 (qiān) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 牵 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 牵 and 奁?

What mistakes do learners make writing 牵?

What common words use 牵?

How to Write 牵 (qiān)