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拉 (lā) — to pull, to drag, to draw; to play (a bowed instrument); to chat

Definition

拉 (lā) covers three distinct uses: pulling/dragging something toward you (vs 拖, which trails or tows something heavy), playing a bowed instrument, or chatting casually. The 'chat' sense is close to 谈 but more colloquial and relaxed.

verb
to pullto dragto drawto play (a bowed instrument)to chat
Easily confused

Examples

  • 拉。
    Qǐng lā yí xià mén.
    Please pull the door.
  • 拉？
    Tā huì lā xiǎo tí qín ma?
    Can she play the violin?
  • 拉。
    Tā men liǎng gè rén lā dé hěn kāi xīn.
    The two of them chatted happily.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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