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拎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
līnto lift, to haul, to takeHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #12470, Hard
līnto carry in one's handHSK 7, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #12470, Hard
līnTaiwan pr. [ling1]HSK 7, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #12470, Hard
līn(lin1) T1
  1. 1to lift, to haul, to take
  2. 2to carry in one's hand
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
līn(lin1)

The character 拎 (līn) means to lift or carry something, often by the handle. It is commonly used in contexts where one is hauling or holding items, particularly with one's hand. This verb conveys a sense of actively moving an object, typically of moderate weight.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#12470DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Taiwan, the pronunciation of 拎 as 'ling' is common, reflecting regional linguistic variations. The concept of lifting and carrying is significant in everyday life, especially in bustling markets where vendors frequently use this action.

Memory Tip

Imagine lifting a bag by its handle (the radical 扌 represents the hand). Think of 'lin' as 'leaning' while you carry it; you 'lean in' to lift it up. Visualize a scene where you lift a heavy bag, emphasizing your effort and the action of your hand.

Meanings of 拎

līn(lin1)
1to lift, to haul, to take
2to carry in one's hand
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 拎

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 拎

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AI Study Notes for 拎

Quick Contrast

提 (tí) — use 拎 (līn) when emphasizing carrying by a handle, while 提 (tí) is more general for lifting or raising.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine lifting a bag by its handle (the radical 扌 represents the hand). Think of 'lin' as 'leaning' while you carry it; you 'lean in' to lift it up. Visualize a scene where you lift a heavy bag, emphasizing your effort and the action of your hand.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 拎 with other verbs that mean 'to carry' or 'to hold.' It's important to note that 拎 specifically implies lifting or hauling with a handle or by hand. This term is informal and may not be used in very formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 拎 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other common verbs of motion and handling, such as 拿 (ná, to take) and 提 (tí, to lift). Students should focus on the context of usage and practice distinguishing between these similar verbs.

Cultural Note

In Taiwan, the pronunciation of 拎 as 'ling' is common, reflecting regional linguistic variations. The concept of lifting and carrying is significant in everyday life, especially in bustling markets where vendors frequently use this action.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to use 拎 in formal contexts, where a more appropriate verb like 提 (tí) might be expected. For example, saying '我拎着文件' (Wǒ līn zhe wénjiàn) in a formal report should be replaced with '我提着文件' (Wǒ tí zhe wénjiàn).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拎

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Etymology of 拎

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 拎?

Decomposition of 拎

IDS Structure⿰扌令
Full Character
=
shou3
left
Ling2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 拎?

Write 拎

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 拎

拎 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 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我匆忙装好食品篮,吃力地把它____上车子。

I hastily packed the hamper and lugged it to the car.

Example Sentences for 拎 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我匆忙装好食品篮,吃力地把它拎上车子。

wǒ cōng máng zhuāng hǎo shí pǐn lán, , chī lì dì bǎ tā līn shàng chē。

I hastily packed the hamper and lugged it to the car.
2
他拎起手提箱,爬上了楼梯.

tā līn qǐ shǒu tí xiāng, , pá shàng le lóu.

He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs.
3
他一把抓住狗的脖子把它拎起来。

tā yī bǎ zhuā zhù gǒu de bó zǐ bǎ tā līn qǐ lái。

He picked the dog up by the scruff of the neck.
4
黑色的拎包由于装了各种形状的东西而中间下陷.

hēi sè de līn bāo yóu yú zhuāng le gè zhǒng xíng zhuàng de dōng xī ér zhōng jiān xià xiàn.

The black reticule sagged under the weight of shapeless objects.

Cultural Notes for 拎

🏮Cultural insight

In Taiwan, the pronunciation of 拎 as 'ling' is common, reflecting regional linguistic variations. The concept of lifting and carrying is significant in everyday life, especially in bustling markets where vendors frequently use this action.

Word Family of 拎

Words Containing This Character2
līnto lift
拎包handbag or shopping bag (dialect)
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 拎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 拎

You can say '我拎着包' (Wǒ līn zhe bāo), which means 'I am carrying the bag.'