Definitions
(verb)
to pull; to draw; to stretch
(verb)
to cause; to incur
(verb)
to lead; to guide
(verb)
to attract; to involve
Etymology
Pictograph of a bowstring being pulled back.
About
The character "引" originates from a pictographic representation of a bow with a line attached to the string, visually depicting the act of drawing a bow. This core concept of pulling or stretching formed its earliest meaning, directly tied to the physical action of using a bow. Over time, its application broadened from the literal act of drawing a bowstring to encompass a wide range of metaphorical extensions involving the idea of traction or guidance. These extended meanings include to lead, to guide, to attract, and to cite or quote, all deriving from the fundamental notion of exerting a pulling force to direct something or someone. Its structure, composed of a bow radical and a vertical stroke representing the taut string, has remained consistent in its traditional form, effectively preserving the original conceptual image while allowing its semantic field to expand into more abstract domains.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这本书吸引我。
他引用了一句名言。
新技术引起了讨论。
公司引进了外国设备。
导游引导游客参观博物馆。
他的行为引来了不少批评。
政府引导企业向绿色发展。
这项研究引用了大量历史文献。