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