引 yǐn — pull; draw out; attract · English

引

yǐn

pull; draw out; attract

At a glance · 引

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文像人开弓之形（弓加一箭），本义为拉弓。金文、小篆承之，隶楷作「引」。会意结构。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为开弓，引申为拉引、引导、延长。

Structure

会意字，从弓从丨（箭），象开弓引弦之形。

At a glance

Pinyinyǐn

Radical弓

Strokes4

UnicodeU+5F15

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English pull; draw out; attract To pull, draw out, attract, or stretch.

Français tirer; attirer; étirer Tirer, attirer ou étirer.

Español tirar; atraer; extender Tirar, atraer o extender.

العربية يسحب؛ يجذب؛ يمدّ أن يسحب أو يجذب أو يمدّ.

Русский тянуть; привлекать Тянуть, вытягивать или привлекать.

Common words

引yǐnlead
引导yǐn dǎoguide

◉ Listen