拉下水 (lā xià shuǐ) — to drag (someone) into a wrongdoing; to corrupt | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning to drag someone into wrongdoing or corruption, often against their will. Used with 把/被 constructions (e.g. 老板把他拉下了水).

verb

to drag (someone) into a wrongdoingto corrupt

Examples

，。
Tā xiǎng lā wǒ xià shuǐ, dàn wǒ méi yǒu tóng yì.
He wanted to drag me into it, but I didn't agree.
拉下水。
Tā yǐ jīng bèi huài rén lā xià shuǐ le.
He has already been corrupted by bad people.
拉下水。
Lǎo bǎn bǎ tā lā xià shuǐ le.
The boss dragged him into it.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

下水into water

下xiàgo down水shuǐwater

动宾Verb + object

拉 means pull and 下水 means into water, so it describes dragging someone into wrongdoing.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

立lì拉lā

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Appears in

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