Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Pull" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "pull", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ひく
ひく (hiku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
抜く
ぬく (nuku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "pull" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ひく and 抜く.
In Japanese, ひく (ひく (hiku)) is typically associated with "to pull; to play (string instrument/piano); to draw (a line)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Has multiple meanings depending on context: 'to pull'.
On the other hand, 抜く (ぬく (nuku)) maps to "to pull out, to extract, to omit, to skip" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Transitive verb. Can refer to physically pulling something out. A literal translation of "pull" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ひく"
ドアを引いてください。
Please pull the door.
Bilingual Context for "抜く"
歯医者で虫歯を抜いてもらった。
I had a cavity pulled out at the dentist.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ドアを引いてください。" (Meaning: "Please pull the door.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ひく" fits here because it means "to pull; to play (string instrument/piano); to draw (a line)" in the context of: "Please pull the door.". "抜く" represents "to pull out, to extract, to omit, to skip".