引

yǐn

丨 + 弓

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

yǐn (verb) to pull; to draw; to stretch

yǐn (verb) to cause; to incur

yǐn (verb) to lead; to guide

yǐn (verb) to attract; to involve

Etymology

Pictograph of a bowstring being pulled back.

About

引 is composed of 弓, a curved bow for shooting arrows, and a vertical stroke 丨 that represents the bowstring being pulled back or stretched tight. The act of drawing the bowstring directly gives rise to its original, most literal meaning: to pull, to draw, or to stretch out a physical object. Over time, this concrete sense extended metaphorically to cover a range of figurative actions, including leading someone in a direction, guiding a process, attracting public attention, and quoting a specific piece of text as evidence.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书吸引我。

Zhè běn shū xīyǐn wǒ.

This book attracts me.

他引用了一句名言。

Tā yǐnyòngle yī jù míngyán.

He quoted a famous saying.

新技术引起了讨论。

Xīn jìshù yǐnqǐle tǎolùn.

The new technology sparked discussion.

公司引进了外国设备。

Gōngsī yǐnjìnle wàiguó shèbèi.

The company imported foreign equipment.

导游引导游客参观博物馆。

Dǎoyóu yǐndǎo yóukè cānguān bówùguǎn.

The tour guide leads tourists to visit the museum.

他的行为引来了不少批评。

Tā de xíngwéi yǐn láile bùshǎo pīpíng.

His behavior has drawn a lot of criticism.

政府引导企业向绿色发展。

Zhèngfǔ yǐndǎo qǐyè xiàng lǜsè fāzhǎn.

The government guides enterprises toward green development.

这项研究引用了大量历史文献。

Zhè xiàng yánjiū yǐnyòngle dàliàng lìshǐ wénxiàn.

This research cites a large number of historical documents.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丨

Component: 弓

Example Words