穿针引线
chuān zhēn yǐn xiàn
to act as a go-between; to bring two sides together
Character by character
穿chuān
thread
thread
针zhēn
needle
needle
引yǐn
draw
draw
线xiàn
thread
thread
Example
这桩生意多亏老王穿针引线，两家公司才坐到了一起。
It was Lao Wang who brought the two companies together and made the deal possible.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From sewing: someone has to thread the needle before the cloth can be joined. Praises a person, a country or an event that brings two sides into contact: 为双方穿针引线, 起到穿针引线的作用.
Learn this in Lesson 126 · HSK 7–9: 北京握手 (International news: the handshake in Beijing)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →