Definition
拉锯 is a separable verb (离合词) — 拉 (to pull) + 锯 (saw). It literally means 'to pull a saw back and forth (with two people)', so the core image is constant back-and-forth movement. From this you get two main uses: (1) a literal or figurative 'seesaw battle' in a competition, argument, or war where neither side gains decisive ground; (2) the sense of a long-drawn-out back-and-forth process (like negotiations). The 锯 part can be split off to insert a measure word or modifier: 拉了好几年的锯 ('went back and forth for years').
v.o.
tug-of-war fightseesaw battle (where neither side makes decisive progress)prolonged back-and-forth process (negotiations, struggles)
Examples
- 拉锯。Shuāngfāng de bǐsài jìnrù le lā jù zhuàngtài.The match between the two sides entered a seesaw battle.
- 。Zhè chǎng tánpàn yǐjīng lā le hǎo jiǔ de jù.This negotiation has been going back and forth for a long time.
- 拉锯。Díwǒ shuāngfāng zài nàlǐ lā jù le hǎo gè yuè.The enemy and our side were locked in a seesaw battle there for months.
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