Common Meanings
1
lā拉
To pull, drag, or draw (e.g., a cart, a net); figuratively, to cause someone's downfall or remove them from a position of power.
他每天都用马来拉车运货。
He uses a horse to pull a cart to transport goods every day.
To transport or haul goods by vehicle.
他用卡车拉了一批建材到工地。
He used a truck to transport a batch of building materials to the construction site.
To stretch or lengthen something by pulling.
做拉伸运动有助于放松肌肉。
Doing stretching exercises helps to relax muscles.
To defecate; to have a bowel movement (often used informally, especially in phrases like '拉肚子' for diarrhea).
我今天拉肚子了
I have diarrhea today.
To connect, recruit, or win over people to form a group or alliance, often for a specific purpose.
他善于拉拢人心，因此在团队中很有影响力。
He is good at winning people's hearts, so he is very influential in the team.
To break, demolish, or pull apart with destructive force.
他奋力一拉，那扇摇摇欲坠的旧木门立刻便散架了
He pulled with all his might, and that shaky old wooden door immediately fell apart.
To lead or take someone or something out or away from a place.
他把孩子们拉到公园去玩。
He took the children to the park to play.
To play (a stringed instrument, especially with a bow).
她会拉小提琴，拉得非常好听。
She can play the violin, and plays it very beautifully.
To raise or bring up children, often implying effort or hardship, as in '拉扯大' (to bring up to adulthood).
她一个人把孩子拉扯大，真的很辛苦
She raised the child alone, it was truly difficult.
To help; to give a hand or support to someone in need.
朋友有难，我们应该拉他一把
When a friend is in trouble, we should give them a hand.
2
lá拉
To gash or cut, often accidentally, creating an opening or wound on the skin.
不小心被刀拉了一下，流血了。
I accidentally got a cut from a knife, and it's bleeding.
To chat; to talk casually about daily life or trifles.
我们坐下来拉了半天家常。
We sat down and chatted about daily life for a long time.