How to Say
How to Write
qiān
Radical: 手 14 strokes
Meaning: to seize
💡 Think 'seize' starts with 's', and 搴's first stroke is a hooked hand grabbing.
Compounds

📚 Character Story & Explanation

搴 (qiān) meaning in English —

In a bustling Beijing market, a vendor hurriedly 搴 (qiān) a prized jade from a competitor's stall—seizing it with a swift hand. This character vividly captures the act of taking something by force or decisiveness. Though less common in modern speech, it appears in literary works to describe bold appropriation. Its radical 手 (hand) emphasizes the physical action, while the phonetic component 寒 (hán) hints at the cold, determined nature of the grab.

💬 Example Sentences

Common Compounds

Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up

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