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拉长 (lā cháng) — to lengthen, to elongate (by pulling); to prolong (time), to extend (scope)

Definition

A verb meaning 'to lengthen or prolong' by pulling or stretching — literally 'pull long'. Unlike 延长 (more formal/written, often abstract timing or scope), 拉长 is concrete and physical, and also describes a face falling (脸拉长).

verb
to lengthento elongate (by pulling)to prolong (time)to extend (scope)

Examples

  • 拉长。
    Tā bǎ xiàng pí jīn lā cháng le.
    She stretched the rubber band longer.
  • ，。
    Huì yì shí jiān lā dé tài cháng, dà jiā dōu lèi le.
    The meeting was prolonged too long; everyone was tired.
  • ，。
    Tā tīng le zhè huà, liǎn yí xià zi lā cháng le.
    When he heard this, his face immediately fell (lengthened).

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

拉lāpull
长chánglong

拉 means to pull and 长 means long; together they describe pulling something until it becomes longer.

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.

Open 拉 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →
Appears in
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