拉 (lā) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 拉 (lā) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 拉 (lā) means "to pull; to drag". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 8 strokes and the radical 扌.

Q: How do you write 拉 stroke by stroke?

拉 has 8 strokes. The radical is 扌. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 拉 and 㧜?

拉 (lā) and 㧜 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 拉?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 扌. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 拉?

Common words containing 拉 include: 拉门 (lā mén) — To pull a door / Sliding door; 拉手 (lā shǒu) — To hold hands; 拉车 (lā chē) — To pull a cart or rickshaw.

How to Write 拉

The character 拉 (lā) is written with 8 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 扌 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

拉 is pronounced lā in Mandarin Chinese. It means to pull; to drag.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 拉 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 拉

拉门 lā mén

To pull a door / Sliding door

拉手 lā shǒu

To hold hands

拉车 lā chē

To pull a cart or rickshaw

Example Sentences

请用力拉门。

qǐng yòng lì lā mén

Please pull the door hard.

几个小朋友手拉手，围成一圈跳起舞来。

jǐ gè xiǎo péng yǒu shǒu lā shǒu ， wéi chéng yī quān tiào qǐ wǔ lái 。

Several children held hands, formed a circle, and started dancing.

他在后面拉车。

tā zài hòu miàn lā chē

He is pulling the cart from behind.

Similar Characters

㧜 liè

托 tuō

扛 gāng

Practice Writing 拉 (lā)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 拉 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 拉

What does 拉 (lā) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 拉 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 拉 and 㧜?

What mistakes do learners make writing 拉?

What common words use 拉?

How to Write 拉 (lā)