握
grip, hold, mould sushi, bribe
Readings
On'yomi
- アク
Kun'yomi
- にぎ.る
Meaning
握 centers on closing the hand around something: gripping, holding firmly, or shaping by hand. The bribe sense is a figurative extension of secretly pressing something into someone's hand.
Most common words using 握
20 of 49- 把握はあくN1
grasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.); understanding; control; hold; grip
- 握るにぎるN3
to clasp; to grasp; to grip; to clutch
- 握手あくしゅN3
handshake
- 握りにぎり
grasping; gripping; grasp; grip; clutch
- 掌握しょうあく
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
- 握力あくりょくN1
grip (of hand); grip strength
- 握りつぶしにぎりつぶし
shelving; pigeonholing; putting to one side
- 握り飯にぎりめし
onigiri; rice ball
- 握り拳にぎりこぶし
clenched fist
- 握り締めるにぎりしめるN1
to grasp tightly
- 握りつぶすにぎりつぶす
to crush (with one's hands)
- 一握りひとにぎりN1
a handful (of)
- 握らすにぎらす
to let (someone) take hold of your hand
- お握らずおにぎらず
onigirazu; onigiri sandwich; rice and layered ingredients wrapped in seaweed
- ほんの一握りほんのひとにぎり
just a handful; only a small number (of)
- ハンドルを握るハンドルをにぎる
to hold the steering wheel; to drive (a car)
- 一握いちあく
a handful (of)
- 主導権を握るしゅどうけんをにぎる
to seize the initiative
- 動向把握どうこうはあく
grasping the trend; firmly understanding how the situation is developing; getting a good sense of how things are changing
- 勝敗の鍵を握るしょうはいのかぎをにぎる
to have the game in one's hands; to hold the key to victory
Study
Etymology
握 combines 扌 (hand) with 屋, which likely contributes the sound アク and adds the idea of enclosing or covering, as a house encloses its interior. The character expresses gripping or holding by hand.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand radical 扌 beside 屋 (house) suggests a hand gripping something tightly, like a hand enclosing a small object the way a house encloses a room.
Reading mnemonic
For アク, imagine gripping an axe handle firmly: axe -> アク, and your hand holds it tight.