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Kotomora

引

pull, tug, jerk, admit, install, quote, refer to

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • イン

Kun'yomi

  • ひ.く
  • ひ.ける

Nanori

  • いな
  • ひき
  • ひけ
  • びき

Meaning

引 centers on drawing something toward oneself or into a situation: pulling physically, tugging, or jerking, and by extension admitting, installing, quoting, or referring to something as if pulling it into a conversation or record.

Most common words using 引

24 of 690
  • 取引とりひき
    N2

    transactions; dealings; business

  • 引くひく
    N5

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

  • 引退いんたい
    N3

    retirement

  • 引用いんよう
    N3

    quotation; citation; reference

  • 割引わりびき
    N3

    discount; reduction; rebate

  • 引き続きひきつづき
    N1

    continuously; continually; without a break

  • 引っ越しひっこし
    N4

    moving (dwelling, office, etc.); changing residence

  • 引き上げひきあげ

    pulling up; drawing up; salvage; re-flotation

  • 引き出しひきだし
    N5

    drawer

  • 強引ごういん
    N2

    overbearing; coercive; pushy; forcible; high-handed

  • 引き起こすひきおこす
    N1

    to cause; to induce; to bring about; to provoke

  • 引き受けひきうけ

    undertaking; underwriting; acceptance

  • 引き換えひきかえ
    N1

    exchange; conversion

  • 引っ張るひっぱる
    N3

    to pull; to draw; to pull tight

  • 値引きねびき
    N2

    price reduction; discount

  • 引き出すひきだす
    N3

    to pull out; to take out; to draw out

  • 吸引きゅういん

    absorption; suction; aspiration

  • 引き継ぐひきつぐ
    N1

    to take over (someone's duties, business, etc.); to inherit; to succeed to; to carry on (a tradition); to continue

  • 引き継ぎひきつぎ
    N1

    taking over; handing over; transfer of control; inheriting; passing on the baton

  • 長引くながびく
    N2

    to be prolonged; to drag on; to take a long time; to persist; to linger

  • 引き上げるひきあげる
    N1

    to pull up; to drag up; to lift up

  • 引き渡しひきわたし

    delivery; handing over; turning over; extradition

  • 引っ越すひっこす
    N4

    to move (house); to change residence

  • 万引きまんびき
    N1

    shoplifting; shoplifter

Explore all words using 引 →

Study

Etymology

引 combines 弓 (bow) with a stroke 丨 that likely represents the bowstring being drawn back, giving the idea of pulling.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side is a bow 弓, and the right side is a single stroke 丨 like a bowstring being pulled back. Picture drawing the bowstring to pull something toward you.

Reading mnemonic

For イン, imagine pulling the bowstring and hearing the inn sound of the string vibrating: inn -> イン, as you draw the bow.