What is the difference between "ひく" and "引く"?

"ひく" means "to pull; to play (string instrument/piano); to draw (a line)" (N5), whereas "引く" represents "to pull" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "ひく (hiku)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

ひく (hiku)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

ひく (hiku)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "ひく (hiku)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

ひく (Level: N5): Translates to "to pull; to play (string instrument/piano); to draw (a line)" and is used when Has multiple meanings depending on context: 'to pull'.
引く (Level: N4): Maps to "to pull" and carries the nuance of Used for pulling objects, drawing lines, or attracting attention. 対義語は「押す」です。.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "ひく"

ドアを引いてください。

Please pull the door.

Bilingual Context for "引く"

このドアは引いてください。

Please pull this door.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "ドアを引いてください。" (Meaning: "Please pull the door.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "ひく" is used for "to pull; to play (string instrument/piano); to draw (a line)" in the context: "Please pull the door.".