qián

钳

Character · Noun · VerbTraditional鉗 箝 拑

pliers; clamp; constrain

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

noun

pliers; tongs; clamp

Refers to hand tools with two hinged jaws for gripping or cutting small objects.

Tā他
yòng用
lǎo老
hǔ虎
qián钳
bǎ把
shēng生
xiù锈
de的
luó螺
sī丝
nǐng拧
le了
xià下
lái来
 。

He used a pair of locking pliers to unscrew the rusted screw.

Jūn军
duì队
bǎi摆
chū出
le了
qián钳
xíng形
gōng攻
shì势
bāo包
wéi围
dí敌
jūn军
 。

The military deployed a pincer attack to surround the enemy.

Show 3 more examples
Diàn电
gōng工
yòng用
gāng钢
sī丝
qián钳
jiǎn剪
duàn断
le了
diàn电
xiàn线
 。

The electrician used wire cutters to snip the electrical wire.

Tiě铁
jiàng匠
yòng用
huǒ火
qián钳
jiā夹
qǐ起
shāo烧
hóng红
de的
tiě铁
kuài块
 。

The blacksmith used a tongs to pick up the red-hot iron block.

Zhè这
zhǒng种
hé核
tao桃
qián钳
kě可
yǐ以
qīng轻
sōng松
jiá夹
kāi开
yìng硬
ké壳
hé核
tao桃
 。

This nutcracker can easily crack open hard-shell walnuts.

2.

verb

to grip with pliers; to clamp

Describes the action of holding or securing something with pliers or a similar clamping tool.

Zhè这
ge个
dīng钉
zi子
tài太
xiǎo小
le了
 ,
qián钳
zi子
qián钳
bù不
zhù住
 。

This nail is too small; the pliers can't grip it firmly.

Tā他
qián钳
zhù住
le了
sōng松
dòng动
de的
shuǐ水
guǎn管
jiē接
tóu头
fáng防
zhǐ止
lòu漏
shuǐ水
 。

He clamped the loose water pipe joint to prevent leaks.

Show 3 more examples
Hàn焊
jiē接
gōng工
rén人
yòng用
hàn焊
qián钳
gù固
dìng定
zhù住
jīn金
shǔ属
bǎn板
cái材
 。

The welder used a welding tong to secure the metal sheet.

Cái裁
feng缝
yòng用
dǐng顶
zhēn针
qián钳
zhù住
bù布
liào料
fáng防
zhǐ止
huá滑
dòng动
 。

The tailor used a thimble to grip the fabric to prevent slipping.

Xiū修
xié鞋
jiàng匠
yòng用
xiǎo小
qián钳
jiā夹
zhù住
le了
duàn断
zài在
xié鞋
gēn跟
lǐ里
de的
dīng钉
zi子
 。

The shoemaker used a small clamp to pull out the broken nail stuck in the heel.

3.

verb

to restrict; to constrain; to suppress

formal

Used in formal or neutral contexts to describe restricting freedom of speech, movement, or action.

Xīn新
de的
zhèng政
cè策
jiāng将
qián钳
zhì制
wài外
zī资
jìn进
rù入
gāi该
háng行
yè业
 。

The new policy will restrict foreign investment in this industry.

Miàn面
duì对
bào暴
zhèng政
 ,
mín民
zhòng众
bèi被
qián钳
kǒu口
jié结
shé舌
bù不
gǎn敢
fā发
shēng声
 。

Facing tyranny, the people were silenced and dared not speak out.

Show 3 more examples
Yán严
gé格
de的
shěn审
chá查
zhì制
dù度
qián钳
zhì制
le了
yì艺
shù术
chuàng创
zuò作
de的
zì自
yóu由
 。

Strict censorship restricts the freedom of artistic creation.

Jiā家
zhǎng长
guò过
dù度
de的
bǎo保
hù护
huì会
qián钳
zhì制
hái孩
zi子
de的
dú独
lì立
chéng成
zhǎng长
 。

Overprotective parenting will constrain a child's independent growth.

Zhèng政
fǔ府
chū出
tái台
fǎ法
guī规
qián钳
zhì制
hōng哄
tái抬
wù物
jià价
de的
xíng行
wéi为
 。

The government introduced regulations to curb price gouging.