The usage of 'draw on'
I know 'draw on' means use, and from Longmen dictionary I got two examples: draw on our exprtise; draw on my savings.
Is it to say that 'draw on' is to make use of something that you already have?
If so, it is okay to say: to draw on other country's experiences for our own development? Is 'assimilate' or 'learn from' better here?

I have this question because I happened to read the sentence from an English textbook written by Chinese scholars. The sentence goes: We are ready to draw on and assimilate anything of capitalist economic and cultural exprience that is useful to us.
I doubt if 'draw on' is correctly used here.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Question

The usage of 'draw on'
I know 'draw on' means use, and from Longmen dictionary I got two examples: draw on our exprtise; draw on my savings.
Is it to say that 'draw on' is to make use of something that you already have? 
If so, it is okay to say: to draw on other country's experiences for our own development? Is 'assimilate' or 'learn from' better here?

I have this question because I happened to read the sentence from an English textbook written by Chinese scholars. The sentence goes: We are ready to draw on and assimilate anything of capitalist economic and cultural exprience that is useful to us.
I doubt if 'draw on' is correctly used here.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Answer

I agree with the others here I think draw on and assimilate work very well together in this sentance. you draw on the information then assimilate it into the new situation etc.

Answer

You're absolutely right! :)
We can use 'draw on' to mean 'use something that is available to you'.
Therefore, it is correct to say 'draw on other country's experiences for our own development'.
Another example:
T'he writer draws havily on his personal experiences.'

In the last sentence, 'draw on' is used to mean the same thing (use the capitalist economic and cultural exprience and assimilate it).
So it is also a correct sentence and the verb 'assimilate' means to fully understand an idea or some information so that you are able to use it yourself.

Answer

You can use "learn from" instead of "draw on", but "assimilate would be different.  I do not believe the use of assimilate is proper here, as assimilate implies that something is absorbed and its unique qualities are lost to the greater whole.  I would have written, "We are ready to learn from and integrate anything of capitalistic and economic cultural experience that would be useful to us."

Answer

Hello Joseph, I like your new profile and your webpage! 

Draw on.....to use as a source 
Assimilate.....to absorb into the culture 

The source that you draw on does not necessarily have to belong to you.
In my opinion the Chinese scholars have correctly used both words in the sentence that you quoted.

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