About
拉 is a phono-semantic compound in which 扌, the hand radical, conveys the meaning of a hand action, and 立 (lì) gives the sound. Its earliest meaning is pulling or dragging an object toward oneself, an exertion of physical force. Over time, the character's usage expanded well beyond that literal sense. It now serves as the standard verb for playing bowed string instruments (violin, erhu, etc.), and in colloquial language it can mean to transport goods, recruit people, or chat casually.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我拉弟弟的手。
请拉开窗帘。
妈妈在拉面。
他拉小提琴。
这个拉链很难拉。
我们拉他参加比赛。
公司正在拉投资。
他拉拢了一些支持者。
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