手を引く

• Reading: てをひく
• Romaji: te wo hiku
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te/shu) — hand; 引 (hi/in) — to pull, withdraw
• Pronunciation: /te.o.çi.kɯ/

Meaning

To withdraw from a deal or involvement; to wash one's hands of something. Indicates a deliberate decision to stop participating.

A compound expression with 手 (hand) and 引く (to pull/withdraw). Group 1 (godan) conjugation via 引く. Can also literally mean to lead someone by the hand, but the figurative meaning of withdrawing is more common at N2 level.

Examples

1. あの会社との取引から手を引くことにした。 I decided to pull out of the deal with that company.
2. 父は六十歳で経営から手を引いた。 My father stepped down from management at the age of sixty.
3. リスクが高すぎるので、この計画から手を引きたい。 The risk is too high, so I want to pull out of this plan.

Usage Guide

Context: business, decision-making, relationships

Tone: decisive

Origin & History

Idiomatic compound from the metaphor of pulling one's hand away from something, signifying disengagement or retreat from involvement.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal