鉗 (qián) - Pliers, pincers, tongs & to grip with pliers

鉗Tone 2

qián ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

鉗 · qián

Pliers, pincers, tongs;

to grip with pliers;

to clamp;

to restrain or control.

Pliers, pincers, tongsto grip with pliersto clamp

Usage highlights

PliersWire cuttersBench viseForcepsTo clamp downPincer attack

Synonyms

  • 夹— to clamp, to pinch
  • 镊— tweezers, to pick up with tweezers

Antonyms

  • 松— loose, to release
  • 放— to let go, to release

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Use pliers to tighten the nut (用钳子拧紧螺母).
  • The dentist used forceps to extract the tooth (牙医用钳子拔牙).
  • They clamped the metal pipe in a vise (他们把金属管夹在台钳上).
  • The regime tried to muzzle free speech (政权试图钳制言论自由).

Collocations

  • Pliers(钳子)
  • Wire cutters(钢丝钳)
  • Bench vise(台钳)
  • Forceps(手术钳)
  • To clamp down(钳制)
  • Pincer attack(钳形攻势)

Idioms

  • Pincer movement(钳形攻势)
  • Strike with both pincers and tail — attack from front and rear(钳尾夹击)
  • Iron clamp and bronze seal — irrefutable evidence(铁钳铜印)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with metalworking and blacksmithing tools.
  • Used metaphorically in military strategy for encirclement tactics.
  • In political context, implies suppression or control of dissent.

FAQ