拖 tuō to drag
to drag; to haul; to tow; to mop; to drag on
How to remember 拖: 扌 hand + 𠂉 clouds + 也 also = to drag. With one hand on the rope under grey clouds, the farmer pulls, his dog also tugs, and together they manage to drag the old car home.
Component breakdown
拖 = 扌 hand + 㐌
- 扌 hand
- 㐌
- 𠂉 clouds
- 也 also
With one hand on the rope under grey clouds, the farmer pulls, his dog also tugs, and together they manage to drag the old car home.
How it is used
- Physical dragging: 拖地 tuōdì "mop the floor," 拖鞋 tuōxié "slippers" (shoes you drag your feet in, no laces).
- Abstract extension: 拖延 tuōyán "to procrastinate," and the internet-slang 拖延症 tuōyánzhèng "procrastination (as if a disease)."
- 别拖了 (bié tuō le) "stop stalling" is a common spoken scolding.
- 拖欠 tuōqiàn "to be in arrears" is the formal word for overdue payments or debts.