How to say "pull" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 引くひくgodan verb, transitive verbThe general verb for pulling something toward yourself; it also covers tugging and leading an animal such as a horse. Typical uses include pulling a door open.
- 引っ張るひっぱるgodan verb, transitive verbLike 引く, this covers pulling generally, but it suggests sustained force or tension: tugging at something, pulling it along, or pulling it tight, as when you stretch a rope taut.
- nounNot a physical pull at all: this noun covers the figurative pull of personal connections, as when someone lands a job or a favor through who they know.
- godan verb, transitive verbIts pull sense is limited to rowing: pulling the oars to move a boat through the water. For any other kind of pulling, this is not the word you want.
- nounAnother word for the figurative pull of connections and influence, often someone's good offices — the help that comes from knowing the right people. It overlaps with コネ in this sense.
「引く」 and 「引っ張る」 both cover physical pulling, the latter often suggesting force or tightness; 「こぐ」 serves only the rowing sense, while 「コネ」 and 「つて」 express the figurative pull of connections and influence.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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