Refers to the act of pulling, or more abstractly to one's pull or influence in social or business contexts. Often used in phrases like 引きが強い (to have strong connections/influence).
He got into that company through his father's connections.
He has strong connections in the political world.
This door is heavy to pull.
Specifically a short, sharp pull. Often used in contexts like tug-of-war or a sudden pull on something.
I felt a strong tug on the fishing rod.
room to pull back (camera)
Photography term: the space or distance available to move the camera backward to frame a shot. Also used in filmmaking.
This studio doesn't have enough room to pull the camera back.
I felt a strong tug on the fishing line.
This studio doesn't have enough room to pull the camera back.
He used his political connections to get permission.
牽引 is a formal, technical word for towing or traction, while 引き is the everyday noun for a sudden tug or pull.
後ろ盾 emphasizes having a protector or backer supporting someone, whereas 引き is the broader idea of influence or pull that helps things go one's way.
引き is the standard, unemphatic prefix form found in many compound verbs, while 引っ is a contracted variant that adds force or intensity in a smaller set of verbs.
引け (closing time, being outdone, closing price, sink mark) and 引き (pulling; a discount) share the kanji 引 but are different words with different readings and meanings.
When used as a noun meaning a turn or occasion, it is naturally counted with 回; the abstract meanings 'pull,' 'influence,' or 'connections' take no counter.
continuously; without a break · next; then; after that
pulling up; salvage; re-flotation · raising; increase; upward revision · repatriation; evacuation
drawer · withdrawal (of money) · resourcefulness; fund of knowledge
cause; induce; bring about; provoke · pull upright; help up
undertaking; acceptance; taking on responsibility · underwriting; formal acceptance of risk or obligation
Standard kanji spelling for the noun form of 引く.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
Noun form of the verb 引く (hiku, 'to pull'), derived from the continuative stem (連用形). The abstract sense of 'influence' developed from the idea of having pull or drawing power.
take over; inherit; carry on · hand over; pass on
handover; taking over; transfer
delivery; handing over; extradition
shoplifting; shoplifter
reduction; cut; lowering
pickup; collection; acceptance; taking custody · leaving; departure; withdrawal
trigger (of a gun, etc.) · trigger (for something); immediate cause
draw; tie
take on; undertake; accept responsibility for · take over; inherit · vouch for; guarantee · contract a disease
bargaining; haggling · tactics; strategy; maneuvering · tactical advance or retreat of troops
train of a dress; trailing skirt · fashion-obsessed woman; woman who only thinks about clothes
shut-in; hikikomori; person who withdraws from society · social withdrawal; shunning other people
guidance; leading; assistance · introduction; connections; influence · guide; guidebook; manual; primer
tightening; firming up; toning
reference; example; instance cited · business inquiry; commercial enquiry; expression of interest · summons to court; witness · pulling against each other; pulling from both ends
turning back; returning
pull toward oneself; draw closer · attract; draw in; entice
delineation; demarcation; drawing a boundary · drawing a line (between acceptable and unacceptable) · ruler (measuring tool)
take possession of; receive; collect; claim · take into one's care; take custody of; adopt · leave; withdraw; go away
drag; trail; pull along the ground · drag along; force to come · prolong; drag out · be influenced; be swayed; be drawn in
hand over; deliver; turn over · surrender; turn over to authorities; extradite · stretch across; run across; span
lottery; drawing lots