天线 tiānxiàn antenna
antenna; aerial; (figuratively) connection to higher authorities; channel to influential people
How to remember 天线: 天 day + 线 line = antenna.
Characters
How it is used
- An antenna / aerial - 电视天线 (diànshì tiānxiàn) a TV antenna; figuratively a channel to higher-ups: 他天线很粗 (tā tiānxiàn hěn cū) he has connections upstairs.
- The literal device, plus a colloquial figurative sense of pull with the powerful. Neutral/technical.
Example sentences
- 这男人试着安装他自己的天线。 Zhè nánrén shìzhe ānzhuāng tā zìjǐ de tiānxiàn.The man tried to install his own antenna.