Translation guide
The act of drawing something toward oneself or in a particular direction. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 引く (hiku), but the appropriate word depends on what is being pulled and how.
To pull something in a general sense, such as a rope, handle, or object, toward oneself.
The most common and versatile verb for pulling. Used for pulling objects, drawing lines, attracting attention, etc.
Please pull the rope.
ドアを引いて開ける。
Pull the door open.
Emphasizes a stronger or more sustained pulling action. Often used for tugging or dragging.
彼は私の袖を引っ張った。
He pulled my sleeve.
To pull something behind you, such as a cart, trailer, or sled.
Used for pulling carts, wagons, etc. Also used for towing.
馬が荷車を引いている。
The horse is pulling a cart.
Formal or technical term for towing or traction, often used in contexts like trains or vehicles.
故障車を牽引する。
Tow a broken-down car.
To remove something from a place by pulling, such as a tooth, a plug, or a drawer.
Used for pulling out objects that are inserted or stuck, like teeth, nails, or plugs.
歯を抜いてもらった。
I had a tooth pulled.
コンセントを抜く。
Pull out the plug.
Literally 'pull out', used for drawers, or metaphorically for eliciting information or talent.
To drag something behind you, often with effort.
To drag or trail something along the ground. Can also be used figuratively for prolonging something.
重いスーツケースを引きずって歩いた。
I walked dragging a heavy suitcase.
To pull a trigger, lever, or similar mechanism.
To attract someone romantically or socially; to 'pull' someone.
There is no direct equivalent for 'pulling' in the sense of attracting a partner. Use モテる (to be popular/attractive) or ナンパする (to hit on/pick up).
彼はよくモテる。
He pulls a lot. (He is popular with women.)
彼はクラブで女の子をナンパした。
He pulled a girl at the club.
引く (hiku) is the general verb for pulling. 引っ張る (hipparu) implies a stronger, more forceful pull, often with a sense of tugging. 引きずる (hikizuru) means to drag something along the ground or to prolong something.
ドアを引く (pull the door) vs ドアを引っ張る (yank the door) vs 荷物を引きずる (drag the luggage)
Pull the door vs yank the door vs drag the luggage
While 引く can mean 'pull', for extracting objects like teeth or plugs, use 抜く (nuku). Using 引く in these contexts would be unnatural.
歯を抜く (pull a tooth) NOT 歯を引く
Pull a tooth
引き出しを引き出す。
Pull out the drawer.