引 - DRAW the Bow, PULL the String

Readings & Meanings:

イン

ひ（く）

pull, draw

Common Usage:

引く

引用

Examples:

このドアは押さずに、引いて開けてください。

その政治家は演説で吉田松陰の言葉を引用した。

Translations:

Without pushing, push this door to open.

That politician quoted "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshida_Sh%C5%8Din">Yoshida Shoin in his speech.

Radical:

弓 is a pictograph of a drawn bow, as in a bow and arrow. The vertical line on the right of 引 merely emphasizes the straightness or extremity of the drawing of the bow.

Bonus:

It'd be pretty tough for you in Japan if you didn't learn this kanji right away, along with its opposite, 押. 引 or 押 are on almost every public door. 引 means Pull and 押 means Push.

But aside from the literal meaning of "pull," 引 combines with other kanji to add a sense of "taking away from," "withdrawing," etc. Check these out:

1. 万引き - shoplifting
2. 割引 - discount
3. 引越し - moving (to another house)

References:

http://www.kanjinetworks.com/tnetwork/TAN.html#TAN26
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/kanji/kanji/u.htm