拉
lā
The English verb 'pull' is translated into Chinese as 拉 (lā). Wiktionary also lists 拖拉 (tuōlā) and 引 (yǐn).
Meaning: transitive: apply force to (something) so it comes towards one (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 拉 | lā |
| 拖拉 | tuōlā |
| 引 | yǐn |
The term 拉 is a common way to express 'pull' in Mandarin Chinese. In a noun form, 拉 can also refer to the act of pulling itself.
Which one should you use?
While 拉 means to pull, 拽 (zhuài) implies a stronger and more forceful pull. The term 扯 (chě) is used in informal conversations to mean 'pull' or 'drag'. To avoid confusion, note that 推 (tuī) is the word used for 'push'. Additionally, the compound verb 拖拉 (tuōlā) is often used figuratively to describe someone who is slow, procrastinating or inefficient, rather than just the physical act of pulling.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
lā
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese, 拉 is used as a colloquial euphemism for 'to defecate'.
- The term 拉风 literally means 'pulling the wind' but is used to describe something that looks cool or stylish.
- In Chinese musical terminology, the word 拉 is used for any instrument played with a bow, such as the 二胡 (erhu) or violin.
Examples in context
- 把你的絲襪拉上去。Pull up your stockings.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 拉 with a directional action like 'pull up'.Tatoeba #6142005 by xjjAstrus, translation #7765377 by sharris123
- 不要拉我的腿！Don't pull my leg!This sentence is useful for seeing 拉 used in a common idiomatic expression.Tatoeba #332560 by fucongcong, translation #268459 by CM
- 请帮我拉一下门。(Qǐng bāng wǒ lā yíxià mén.)Please help me pull the door.
- 快来扯一下这条绳子。(Kuài lái chě yíxià zhè tiáo shéngzi.)Come and pull this rope quickly.
- 老王会拉小提琴。(Lǎo Wáng huì lā xiǎotíqín.)Lao Wang can play the violin.
- 請幫我拉一下這扇門。Qǐng bāng wǒ lā yīxià zhè shàn mén.Please help me pull this door.
Example conversation
A couple is trying to open a heavy door at a cafe.
- 浩然 Haoran這道門很重，你幫我拉一下。Zhè dào mén hěn zhòng, nǐ bāng wǒ lā yīxià.This door is heavy, help me pull it.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，我拉不動呀。Hàorán, wǒ lā bù dòng ya.Haoran, I can't pull it.
- 浩然 Haoran沒關係，我用力拉一下就好。Méiguānxì, wǒ yònglì lā yīxià jiù hǎo.It's okay, I'll just pull it hard.
- 佳怡 Jiayi謝謝你，門開了。Xièxiè nǐ, mén kāi le.Thank you, the door is open.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pull” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
