拉钩
lāgōu
The English phrase 'pinky promise' is translated into Chinese as 拉钩 (lāgōu).
The term 拉钩 is used to describe both the physical act of hooking pinky fingers and the concept of the pinky promise itself. While the noun 'pinky promise' is often translated as a verb phrase in Chinese, it is used both to describe the act and the concept of the promise itself.
Meaning: promise made by entwining pinky fingers (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 拉 (lā), meaning 'to pull' and 钩 (gōu), meaning 'hook'.
How do you pronounce it?
lāgōu
When do people say it?
In Chinese culture, this gesture is almost exclusively associated with children making solemn, playful or cute promises to one another.
Did you know?
- A common addition to the 拉钩 ritual is 盖章, where the children press their palms together like a stamp to finalize the contract.
- In modern Chinese digital culture, particularly in 'cute' online slang (sǎjiāo), the term 拉钩 is frequently used in text to signal a playful or flirtatious demand for a commitment.
- While 拉钩 describes the gesture, children often follow it with the phrase 十个手指头, 一个不掉, which means 'ten fingers, not one shall fall'.
Examples in context
- 咱们小指勾勾吧Let's pinky promise!
- 我们拉钩吧。Wǒmen lāgōu ba.Let's pinky promise.
- 我们拉钩，不许骗人。Wǒmen lāgōu, bùxǔ piàn rén.Let's pinky promise, no lying.
- 你跟我拉钩了吗？Nǐ gēn wǒ lāgōu le ma?Did you pinky promise me?
Example conversation
Two friends are making a pact about keeping a secret.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你一定会保守秘密吧？Nǐ yīdìng huì bǎoshǒu mìmì ba?You will definitely keep the secret, right?
- 伟 Wei没问题，我们拉钩吧。Méi wèntí, wǒmen lāgōu ba.No problem, let's pinky promise.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好，那我们拉钩。Hǎo, nà wǒmen lāgōu.Okay, then let's pinky promise.
- 伟 Wei拉钩了，我绝对不说。Lāgōu le, wǒ juéduì bù shuō.Pinky promised, I definitely won't say anything.
