to pull, to drag; to seize, to hold; to lengthen; to play (a violin)
HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #419, Medium
lā(la1) T1
1to pull
2to play (a bowed instrument)
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March 24, 2026
拉lā(la1)
The character 拉 (lā) primarily means 'to pull' or 'to drag.' It is commonly used in various contexts, such as physically pulling an object, playing string instruments like the violin, or even in informal conversations where people might say they are 'pulling' or 'drawing' someone into a chat. The nuance can also imply an action of seizing or holding something tightly.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#419DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese music, 拉 refers specifically to the technique of playing string instruments like the erhu, which is culturally significant as a symbol of Chinese musical heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pulling a long, colorful ribbon (拉) behind them. The ribbon stretches out as they walk, symbolizing the action of pulling. The sound 'lā' can be remembered by picturing the ribbon making a 'la-la' sound as it drags along the ground.
Meanings of 拉
lā(la1)
1to pull
2to play (a bowed instrument)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拉
拉Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#419Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 拉
Podcast: 拉
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AI Study Notes for 拉
Quick Contrast
拉 (lā) vs 拖 (tuō): Use 拉 for pulling or dragging with a sense of exertion, whereas 拖 emphasizes dragging something along the ground.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person pulling a long, colorful ribbon (拉) behind them. The ribbon stretches out as they walk, symbolizing the action of pulling. The sound 'lā' can be remembered by picturing the ribbon making a 'la-la' sound as it drags along the ground.
Usage Notes
When using 拉, be careful with the tone; it should always be pronounced as 'lā' with a first tone. Common collocations include 拉手 (to hold hands) and 拉琴 (to play a string instrument). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts as it is more casual.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 4, 拉 connects with other action verbs like 推 (to push) and 拿 (to take). Focus on practicing the different contexts in which 拉 can be used, especially in combination with other verbs to enhance fluency.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese music, 拉 refers specifically to the technique of playing string instruments like the erhu, which is culturally significant as a symbol of Chinese musical heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 拉 with other similar-sounding verbs, such as 拿 (ná, to take). For example, saying '我拿门' (wǒ ná mén) instead of '我拉门' (wǒ lā mén) is incorrect for the action of pulling a door.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拉
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Grammar Patterns of 拉
拉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Douglas was a 29-year-old journeyman fighter, erratic in his previous fights.
10
旅行的终点是马拉喀什古城。
lǚ háng de zhōng diǎn shì mǎ lā kā shí gǔ chéng。
The journey ends in the ancient city of Marrakesh.
Cultural Notes for 拉
💡Did you know?
The character '拉' is associated with physical movement, particularly using hands. In traditional Chinese music, '拉' is also used to describe playing string instruments like the erhu, which involves pulling on strings with a bow.
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese music, 拉 refers specifically to the technique of playing string instruments like the erhu, which is culturally significant as a symbol of Chinese musical heritage.
Word Family of 拉
Compounds3
啦la1(onom.) sound of singing, cheering etc
菈
鞡
Words Containing This Character20
拉lāto pull
伊拉克Iraq
拉开lākāito pull open拉開
卡拉Cara, Karla etc (name)
莎拉Sara or Sarah (name)
沙拉salad (loanword)
拉斯维加斯Las Vegas, Nevada拉斯維加斯
拉拉Labrador retriever
阿拉伯Arabian
法拉利Ferrari
拉丁Latin
阿拉our
拉手to hold hands
拉萨Lhasa, capital city of Tibet autonomous region 西藏自治區|西藏自治区拉薩
拉链zipper拉鏈
委内瑞拉Venezuela委內瑞拉
克拉carat (mass) (loanword)
摩托罗拉Motorola摩托羅拉
马拉松marathon (loanword)馬拉松
拖拉机tractor拖拉機
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 啦 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拉
Yes, 拉 is a commonly used verb in everyday conversation. You might hear it in contexts related to physical actions, like pulling something, or in social contexts, like chatting with someone.
Some synonyms for 拉 include 拖 (tuō), which means 'to drag,' and 拉扯 (lā chě), which means 'to pull or tug.' These words can be used interchangeably in certain contexts, but their specific meanings may vary.
拉 (lā) means 'to pull' or 'to drag' in Chinese. It can also refer to playing a bowed instrument or engaging in a chat. The character has multiple uses in different contexts, making it quite versatile.
You can use 拉 (lā) in sentences like '我拉门' (Wǒ lā mén), which means 'I pull the door.' It can also be used in expressions like '拉小提琴' (lā xiǎo tí qín), meaning 'to play the violin.' Understanding the context will help you use it correctly.
You can say '我拉门' (wǒ lā mén), which means 'I pull the door.'
Many learners confuse it with 拉 (lā) and 拉 (là), the latter meaning 'to leave something behind,' so ensure to use the first tone.
While it's primarily used in casual contexts, it can appear in informal writing, but it's best to choose more formal verbs for academic or professional contexts.
