拉 (lā) - to pull & to drag
拉 · lā
to pull;
to drag;
to haul;
to play (certain musical instruments);
to recruit;
to involve;
to transport by vehicle;
to arrest;
to implicate.
to pullto dragto haul
Usage highlights
to pullto dragto playto transportto recruitto involve
Usage & contexts
Examples
- Please pull the door open (拉开门).
- He plays the violin (拉小提琴).
- The truck is hauling goods (拉货).
- The company is recruiting new employees (拉新人).
Collocations
- to pull(拉)
- to drag(拉拽)
- to play (the erhu)(拉二胡)
- to transport(拉货)
- to recruit(拉人)
- to involve(拉下水)
Idioms
- Drag in everyone that's implicated(拉帮结派)
- Pull someone down from their high horse(拉下马)
- Drag through the mud(拉下水)
- Struggle to make ends meet(拉饥荒)
Cultural background
FAQ- The character 拉 is associated with physical action and movement, reflecting its meaning of pulling or dragging.
- In Chinese music culture, 拉 is used for playing bowed string instruments like the erhu (拉二胡).
- The character appears in various colloquial expressions related to social interactions and recruitment.