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後へ引く (あとへひく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ku)
back down ; back out ; withdraw ; retreat
Usually used in the negative (後へ引かない, 後へ引けない) to mean one cannot back down or withdraw from a commitment, plan, or confrontation. The expression implies a sense of being unable to retreat or renege.
彼かれ
は
一いち
度ど
言い
い
出だ
し
たら
後あと
へ
引ひ
か
ない
性せい
格かく
だ
。
He's the type who, once he says something, won't back down.
Written forms 後あと へ 引ひ く
Standard kanji spelling for this expression.
後あと へ 退ひ く
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 引く is the usual spelling.
Kanji 退 retreat, withdraw, retire Similar words 引ひ き 下さ がる 引き下がる also means to back down or withdraw, but is a single verb and can be used more broadly. 後へ引く is an expression that strongly implies an inability to retreat, often in the negative.
後こう 退たい する 後退する means to retreat or fall back, often in a physical or strategic sense. 後へ引く is more about backing out of a commitment or confrontation.
Etymology The expression combines 後 (behind, back) with 引く (pull, draw back), literally 'pull back'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used idiomatically to mean retreating from a position or commitment.
