hin1牽牵
Jyutpinghin1
Yalehīn
Definition
To pull, tow, or lead by the hand; to connect or involve.
- to pull; to tow; to lead by the hand
- figurativeto connect; to associate; to involve
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of leading someone or something by the hand or a leash. It implies a sense of guidance or control rather than just pulling with force. In modern spoken Cantonese, people often use 拉 instead for general pulling, while 牽 is reserved for more intimate or specific contexts like walking with a child or a pet.
Examples
She is holding the child's hand to cross the road.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 拖, which is more commonly used in casual speech for holding hands or dragging something along. Using 牽 in everyday contexts can sound slightly formal or literary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
