牵线搭桥
qiān xiàn dā qiáo
to act as a go-between; to bring two sides together
Character by character
牵qiān
pull
pull
线xiàn
thread
thread
搭dā
build
build
桥qiáo
bridge
bridge
Example
这次合作能谈成，多亏一位老同学在中间牵线搭桥。
The deal came off thanks to an old classmate who brought the two sides together.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
First of matchmaking, after the red thread that folk belief says ties future couples together (compare 千里姻缘一线牵, lesson 2-16); now just as often of business, research and diplomacy: 为中外企业牵线搭桥. In love the go-between is a 红娘.
Learn this in Lesson 151 · HSK 7–9: 人民公园相亲角 (The marriage market in People’s Park)
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.
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