拉开

• Pinyin: lā kāi
• Hanzi breakdown: 拉 = 扌(hand radical) + 立 (phonetic component); 开 = 廾 (two hands) + 一 (bar being opened)

Meaning

To pull open; to draw apart; to widen (a gap). Describes the action of pulling something open or increasing the distance between two things.

拉开 has both literal and figurative uses. Literally it means to pull something open (a curtain, a door, a zip). Figuratively it describes widening a gap or disparity — in scores, income, ability level — between two parties. It is also used for opening the start of something (拉开序幕 means to raise the curtain on an event).

Examples

1. 她拉开窗帘，让阳光照进房间。 She pulled open the curtains to let the sunlight into the room.
2. 比赛到了下半场，两队之间的分差慢慢拉开了。 In the second half of the match, the score gap between the two teams gradually widened.
3. 他拉开椅子坐下，认真地听老师讲课。 He pulled out a chair and sat down, listening attentively to the teacher.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, sports, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请把窗帘拉开，我想透透气。(Please pull open the curtains — I want some fresh air.)
• 两个学生之间的成绩差距正在不断拉开。(The gap in scores between the two students is widening.)

Don't Say

• 拉开这面墙 (Don't use 拉开 with fixed immovable objects — it requires something that can physically be pulled open, like curtains, doors, or zips)

Origin & History

拉 (to pull) and 开 (open, apart) form a directional verb compound indicating the result of pulling — something is now open or separated. This verb-complement structure is very common in Mandarin.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal