1.
to pull, to draw
To move something toward oneself.
ドアを引く。
To pull the door.
辞書を引く。
To look up in a dictionary.
カーテンを引く。
To draw the curtain.
手を引いて歩く。
To walk holding someone's hand.
分からない言葉があったら、辞書を引いて調べてください。
If there are words you don't know, please look them up in a dictionary.
2.
to subtract
To take away a number.
5から3を引く。
To subtract 3 from 5.
税を引いた価格。
The price minus tax.
割引を引いた値段。
The price after discount.
経費を引いて計算する。
To calculate after deducting expenses.
売り上げから経費を引いた金額が利益になる。
The amount after deducting expenses from sales becomes the profit.
3.
to catch (cold)
To become infected with a cold.
風邪を引いた。
I caught a cold.
風邪を引きやすい。
I catch colds easily.
ひどい風邪を引いている。
I have a bad cold.
また風邪を引いてしまった。
I caught a cold again.
冬になると風邪を引きやすいので、気をつけてください。
You tend to catch colds in winter, so please be careful.
引く is a versatile godan verb with multiple meanings related to pulling, drawing, and subtracting.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pair: none (but contrast with 押す 'to push')
MEANING 1 - PULL/DRAW:
- ドアを引く: to pull the door
- 線を引く: to draw a line
- 辞書を引く: to look up in a dictionary
- 注意を引く: to draw attention
MEANING 2 - SUBTRACT:
- 5から3を引く: to subtract 3 from 5
- 税を引く: to deduct tax
MEANING 3 - CATCH (COLD):
- 風邪を引く: to catch a cold
NOTE: Different kanji exist: 弾く (play instrument), 轢く (run over).