引ひき合あい

noun

reference; example; instance cited

Most often used in the fixed expression 引き合いに出す, meaning to cite something as an example, comparison, or supporting reference.

• 彼かれは成せい功こう例れいとしてその会かい社しゃを引ひき合あいに出だした。

  He cited that company as an example of success.

noun

business inquiry; commercial enquiry; expression of interest

Business use for an inquiry or approach about a product, order, deal, or possible transaction; common with 引き合いがある, 引き合いが来る, and 引き合いを受ける.

• 新しん製せい品ひんについて、海かい外がいの代だい理り店てんから多おおくの引ひき合あいが来きている。

  Many inquiries about the new product are coming in from overseas distributors.

noun

summons to court; witness

Legal or older-document use for being called to appear in court, or for a witness; not a common everyday meaning, and modern Japanese would usually use more explicit legal terms such as 呼び出し or 証人.

• 法ほう律りつ関かん係けいの古ふるい文ぶん脈みゃくでは、「引ひき合あい」が裁さい判ばんへの呼よび出だしや証しょう人にんを指さすことがある。

  In older legal contexts, 引き合い can refer to a summons to court or to a witness.

noun

pulling against each other; pulling from both ends

Literal noun sense from the idea of opposing pulls. This meaning is much less common than the citation and business-inquiry uses; in everyday speech, 引っ張り合い is often clearer for physical pulling.

• 綱つな引ひきの説せつ明めいで「両りょう側がわからの引ひき合あい」と言いえば、双そう方ほうが反はん対たい方ほう向こうに引ひくことを指さす。

  In an explanation of tug-of-war, 両側からの引き合い refers to both sides pulling in opposite directions.