hinzuziehen

Hinzuziehen is a German verb (infinitive hinzuziehen) meaning to bring someone in or to involve someone for advice, expertise, or participation. It is commonly used when additional people from outside the immediate circle are asked to contribute to a decision, task, or assessment.

Etymology and grammar: The word combines the prefix hinzu- with ziehen (to pull). Hinzuziehen is a separable verb, so in many tenses the prefix is separated in word order. For example, present tense: ich ziehe ihn hinzu; past tense: wir haben ihn hinzugezogen. The corresponding noun form is das Hinzuziehen or die Hinzuziehung, referring to the act of bringing someone in.

Usage and contexts: Hinzuziehen is frequent in legal, medical, business, journalism, and administrative contexts. It denotes bringing in an external expert, witness, or advisor to inform a decision or evaluation. In everyday language it can appear as “einen Experten hinzuziehen” or “einen Zeugen hinzuziehen.” It is slightly more formal and specific than synonyms like einbeziehen or zu Rate ziehen, which can have broader or less external connotations.

Synonyms and related terms: Einbeziehen means to include or involve in a broader sense; zu Rate ziehen emphasizes consulting someone for their opinion. Hinzuziehen typically implies seeking external input or expertise beyond the current group.

Example sentences: Der Sachverständige wird hinzugezogen, um den Fall zu bewerten. Bei Zweifeln sollte die Rechtsabteilung hinzugezogen werden. Wir ziehen einen Fachberater hinzu, um die Planung zu optimieren.