Japanese word

引き抜く

Pronunciation

Romajihikinuku

Meaning

  • verbpull out

Example

その雑草を引き抜きます。so no zas sō o hi ki nu ki ma su

I pull out that weed.

Illustration for 引き抜く (pull out)

More examples

雨上がりは、土が柔らかいので雑草を引き抜きます。ame a ga ri wa tsuchi ga yawa ra ka i no de zas sō o hi ki nu ki ma su

After the rain, I pull out weeds because the soil is soft.

Core concept

The core sense is taking something or someone away from an existing position, attachment, or affiliation.

Common phrases

  • 雑草を引き抜くzas sō o hi ki nu ku

    pull out weeds

  • 根ごと引き抜くne go to hi ki nu ku

    pull out by the roots

  • 歯を引き抜くha o hi ki nu ku

    pull out a tooth

  • 土から引き抜くtsuchi ka ra hi ki nu ku

    pull out of the soil

  • 優秀な人材を引き抜くyū shū na jin zai o hi ki nu ku

    headhunt top talent

Similar words

抜くnuku: To remove something from where it is fixed or placed, often by pulling.
抜き取るnukitoru: To take something out of a place or container by pulling it.
取り出すtoridasu: To remove something from inside a place or container.

Definition in Japanese

物や人を、付いている所や属している所から抜き出すこと。mono ya hito o tsu i te i ru tokoro ya zoku shi te i ru tokoro ka ra nu ki da su ko to

Word origin

引き抜く (hikinuku) is made from 引く (hiku, "pull") and 抜く (nuku, "take out"), so its form expresses pulling something free from where it is held.

Usage tips

  • The recruiting sense of 引き抜く (hikinuku) is common in workplace contexts and refers to moving a person away from an existing employer, not merely hiring an applicant.

Other meanings

  • uprootverb
  • headhuntverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 引き抜きhikinukipulling outnoun

Word lists with this word