引く
hiku[çi̥kɯ̟]
hiku is the Japanese word for to pull.
The core meaning of 引く is to pull or to drag. In a mathematical context, it is also used to mean to subtract.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of the verb is 引いた (pulled or subtracted). The te-form is 引いて, which is used to connect actions or to request an action.
How do you pronounce it?
hiku
Did you know?
- The verb 引く is used when you have a cold, specifically in the phrase kaze o hiku. This literally describes 'pulling' a cold into your body.
- In Japanese, you do not 'look up' a word in a dictionary, but rather 引く it. This implies the act of pulling a specific page or entry out of the collection.
- When talking about music, hiku is the specific verb used for playing stringed instruments like the piano or guitar.
Examples in context
- 私のバッグを引いてください (Watashi no baggu o hikite kudasai)Please pull my bag.
- この書類を引き取りに来ました (Kono shorui o hiki-tori ni kimashita)I've come to collect these documents.
- ドアを引く。doa o hiku.Pull the door.
- この線を引く。kono sen o hiku.Draw this line.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are cleaning a classroom together.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、そのドアを引いて。Yui, sono doa o hiite.Yui, pull that door.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった、蓮くん。Wakatta, Ren-kun.Okay, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren重いね、ドアを引くのが大変だ。Omoi ne, doa o hiku no ga taihen da.It's heavy, pulling the door is hard.
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。Hontou da ne.You're right.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 引く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
