牵头

• Pinyin: qiān tóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 牵 = 牛 + 玄 (pull/lead); 头 = 大 + 一 (head/front — pictographic)

Meaning

To take the lead; to spearhead; to be the lead organiser. To assume the leading role in initiating or coordinating a joint effort.

A common expression in official, administrative, and organisational contexts. Refers to a body, institution, or individual taking primary responsibility for initiating or coordinating a project or task. Often used in government documents, corporate governance, and news reports. 牵头单位 (lead unit/organisation) is a set phrase.

Examples

1. 此次跨部门专项整治行动由市场监管局牵头，联合公安、税务等部门共同参与执法。 This cross-department enforcement campaign was led by the market regulation bureau, with joint participation from public security, tax authorities, and other departments.
2. 学校决定由教务处牵头，组织一次全校范围内的课程体系综合评估与改革论证工作。 The school decided that the academic affairs office would take the lead in organizing a campus-wide comprehensive evaluation and reform review of the curriculum system.
3. 国际气候谈判需要大国牵头推动，才能在分歧明显的各方之间凝聚共识，形成有效的集体行动。 International climate negotiations need major countries to take the lead; only then can they build consensus among sharply divided parties and form effective collective action.

Usage Guide

Context: government, administration, business, project management

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这次技术攻关项目由院士团队牵头，多家科研机构协同参与，计划在两年内突破核心技术瓶颈。(This technical breakthrough project is spearheaded by a team of academicians, with the collaborative participation of multiple research institutions, and plans to overcome the core technical bottleneck within two years.)
• 公司决定由副总裁牵头组建专项工作小组，全面负责新市场进入策略的制定与落地执行。(The company has decided that the vice president will take the lead in forming a special task force to take full responsibility for devising and implementing the strategy for entering new markets.)

Don't Say

• 他牵头了一个好主意 — 牵头 applies to leading organised efforts, not to having or proposing ideas; use 提出/倡议 for ideas

Origin & History

牵 (pull/lead) + 头 (head/front) — to pull at the head; to be at the front and lead others along

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal