Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "引く", "抜く", "けむに巻く", "手繰る"
All represent the core concept "pull", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
引く
ひく (hiku)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
抜く
ぬく (nuku)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
けむに巻く
けむにまく (kemunimaku)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
手繰る
たぐる (taguru)
C1 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "pull" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "引く", "抜く", "けむに巻く", "手繰る" based on context.
- 引く (ひく (hiku) - Level: N4): Maps to "to pull" and is used when Used for pulling objects, drawing lines, or attracting attention. 対義語は「押す」です。.
- 抜く (ぬく (nuku) - Level: N3): Maps to "to pull out, to extract, to omit, to skip" and is used when Transitive verb. Can refer to physically pulling something out.
- けむに巻く (けむにまく (kemunimaku) - Level: N2): Maps to "to pull the wool over someone's eyes; to deceive; to mislead; to confuse" and is used when An idiom meaning to intentionally confuse or mislead someone, often by speaking vaguely, changing the subject, or presenting a confusing array of facts, so that they cannot grasp the truth or question effectively. Lit. 'to wrap in smoke.'.
- 手繰る (たぐる (taguru) - Level: C1): Maps to "to pull in, trace" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "引く"
このドアは引いてください。
Please pull this door.
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.
Context for "けむに巻く"
彼は質問にはっきり答えず、けむに巻くのが得意だ。
He's good at confusing people by not answering questions clearly.
Context for "手繰る"
毎日、日本語を練習するために手繰る。
Every day, I pull in, trace to practice Japanese.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "このドアは引いてください。" (Meaning: "Please pull this door.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "引く" is correct here because it represents "to pull" in the context: "Please pull this door.".