Chinese word

引

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐn

Meaning

  • verbpull

Example

他把狗引到外面去了。tā bǎ gǒu yǐn dào wài miàn qù le

He pulled the dog outside.

Illustration for 引 (pull)

More examples

这条新闻引起了热议。zhè tiáo xīn wén yín qǐ le rè yì

This news sparked heated discussion.

Core concept

Something is brought from where it is toward a selected point, either through physical movement or through a chain of effects.

Common phrases

  • 引起注意yín qǐ zhù yì

    attract attention

  • 吸引顾客xī yǐn gù kè

    attract customers

  • 引导学生yín dǎo xué shēng

    guide students

Similar words

拉lā: Pull a person or thing to change its position, using the hands or a tool.
拖tuō: Drag a thing along a surface while its weight or friction resists movement.
带dài: Take a person or thing along to a place.

Definition in Chinese

用力把某物向一方拉动，也指把人或事物带到某处或引起某种变化。yòng lì bǎ mǒu wù xiàng yì fāng lā dòng yě zhǐ bǎ rén huò shì wù dài dào mǒu chù huò yín qǐ móu zhǒng biàn huà

Word origin

In early Chinese, 引 (yǐn, "pull") referred to drawing a bow, then extended from drawing something physically to guiding it and bringing about a consequence.

Usage tips

  • A common ba-construction places the object before the verb and the destination after it, highlighting what is moved and where it ends up.

Other meanings

  • leadverb
  • take outsideverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word