Japanese symbol for “tow”
引っ張る
ひっぱる
Romaji: hipparu
to pull; to draw; to pull tight
In Japanese, tow is 引っ張る, read ひっぱる (hipparu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5r, vt to pull; to draw; to pull tight
- v5r, vt to string (lines); to run (cable); to stretch
- v5r, vt to pull towards oneself (e.g. someone's sleeve)
- v5r, vt to drag; to haul; to tow
- v5r, vt to lead (e.g. one's followers)
- v5r, vt to take someone somewhere (e.g. a suspect to the police)
Written forms: 引っ張る、引っぱる、引張る. Readings: ひっぱる.
Kanji and stroke order
counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread
on: チョウ
kun: は.る、-は.り、-ば.り
kun: は.る、-は.り、-ば.り
11 strokes · JLPT 2
Other Japanese words for “tow”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 麻屑 | あさくず asakuzu | oakum; tow |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 取引 | とりひき torihiki | transactions; dealings; business |
| 引退 | いんたい intai | retirement |
| 割引 | わりびき waribiki | discount; reduction; rebate |
| 引き続き | ひきつづき hikitsuzuki | continuously; continually; without a break |
| 引用 | いんよう in'you | quotation; citation; reference |
| 引っ越し | ひっこし hikkoshi | moving (dwelling, office, etc.); changing residence |
| 主張 | しゅちょう shuchou | claim; insistence; assertion |
| 緊張 | きんちょう kinchou | tension; strain; nervousness |
See also: Chinese symbol for “tow”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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