Japanese word

引く

Pronunciation

Romajihiku

Meaning

  • verbpull

Example

ひもを引きます。hi mo o hi ki ma su

I pull the string.

Illustration for 引く (pull)

More examples

そりを引きます。so ri o hi ki ma su

I pull the sled.

カーテンは横に引いて閉めます。kā te n wa yoko ni hi i te shi me ma su

I close the curtains by pulling them to the side.

Core concept

Describes using force to draw something toward oneself or move it along from its current position.

Common phrases

  • ロープを引くrō pu o hi ku

    pull a rope

  • ひもを引くhi mo o hi ku

    pull a string

Similar words

引っ張るhipparu: To pull something with force, often by holding or gripping it.
引き寄せるhikiyoseru: To pull something closer to oneself or to a chosen place.

Definition in Japanese

物を手前に動かすために力を加える。mono o te mae ni ugo ka su ta me ni chikara o kuwa e ru

Word origin

引く (hiku) is a native Japanese verb, not a loanword; its basic sense is drawing something toward oneself, with related senses such as leading and subtracting developing from that movement.

Usage tips

  • Japanese doors may be marked 引く (hiku) or 押す (osu), showing whether the required action is pull or push.

Other meanings

  • leadverb
  • subtractverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 引き方hikikataway of pullingnoun

Word lists with this word