Word details

引く

Meanings, readings, and example sentences for the Japanese word 引く

Dictionary

Entry

曳く
牽く
Godan verb
Freq #725
1

Transitive verb

to pull; to tug; to lead (e.g. a horse)

Examples
カーテンがゆっくり引かれた
The curtains were drawn slowly.
2

Transitive verb; Also written as 惹く

to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest)

3

Transitive verb

to draw back (e.g. one's hand); to draw in (one's chin, stomach, etc.); to pull in

Examples
あんな本みたらフツーの女は引くもんな!
Obviously a normal woman would lose interest if she saw a book like that!
4

Transitive verb

to draw (a card, mahjong tile, etc.)

Examples
あなたの引いたカードは赤のマークですね。
The card you drew was a red, wasn't it?
5

Transitive verb

to draw (a line, plan, etc.)

Examples
AからBまで線をひきなさい。
Draw a line from A to B.
6

Transitive verb

to catch (a cold)

Examples
悪い風邪をひいていて、さらに悪いことには、雪が降ってきました。
I had a bad cold, and to make matters worse, it began snowing.
7

Transitive verb; Usu. written as 弾く

to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)

Examples
彼女はグランドピアノでその曲を引いた
She played that tune on her grand piano.
8

Transitive verb

to look up (in a dictionary, phone book, etc.); to consult; to check

Examples
その単語を辞書でひいてごらん。
Look up the word in your dictionary.
9

Transitive verb; Esp. 牽く

to haul; to pull (vehicles)

Examples
私は馬が荷車を引いているのを見た。
I saw a horse pulling a cart.
10

Transitive verb

to subtract; to deduct

Examples
10から2を引くと、8残る。
Two from ten leaves eight.
11

Transitive verb

to recede; to ebb; to fade

Examples
腫れが引くまで何日くらいかかりますか。
How many days will it take until the swelling goes down?
12

Transitive verb

to be descend from; to inherit (a characteristic)

Examples
その作家はギリシャの王家の血統を引いていた
The writer was descended from the Greek royal family.
13

Transitive verb

to quote; to cite; to raise (as evidence)

Examples
できるだけ英語から例をひこう
Insofar as possible, our examples will be drawn from English.
14

Transitive verb

to lay on (electricity, gas, etc.); to install (e.g. a telephone); to supply (e.g. water)

Examples
海底ケーブルが両国の間に引かれた
A submarine cable was laid between the two countries.
15

Transitive verb

to hold (e.g. a note)

16

Transitive verb

to apply (e.g. lipstick); to oil (e.g. a pan); to wax (e.g. a floor)

17

Intransitive verb; Also written as 退く

to move back; to draw back; to recede; to fall back; to retreat

18

Intransitive verb; Also written as 退く

to lessen; to subside; to ebb; to go down (e.g. of swelling)

19

Intransitive verb; Also written as 退く

to resign; to retire; to quit

20

Colloquial; Intransitive verb

to be put off (by someone's words or behaviour); to be turned off; to recoil (in disgust, etc.); to cringe

Character notes

Kanji in this Word

4 strokes
Frequency: 218
JLPT N3
Grade 2

Meanings

pull
tug
jerk
admit
install
quote
refer to

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
イン
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
ひ.く
ひ.ける
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
いな
ひき
ひけ
びき
7 strokes
Grade 9

Meanings

pull
tug
jerk
admit
install
quote
refer to

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
エイ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
ひ.く
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
ひき
びき
11 strokes
Grade 9

Meanings

pull
tug
drag
lead by hand

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
ケン
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
ひ.く

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