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引子

Mandarin · pinyin yǐn zi

introduction
primer
opening words

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Characters in this entry

引: yǐn · to pull, draw out, attract; to stretch
子: zǐ · offspring, child; fruit, seed of; first earthly branch

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–5 · yin3 zi5

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 8 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jan5 zi2

Cantonese word readings for 引子. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

(music) first song in a set
(theater) opening words (spoken or sung)
(music) introduction
preface; prelude; introduction
(traditional Chinese medicine) conductor (ingredient added to enhance the effectiveness of the medicine)
guide
cause
(Taiwan, biochemistry) primer

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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