掌しょう中ちゅう

しょ

う

ちゅ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

in the palm of one's hand; within one's grasp

Literally inside one's hand; figuratively, something fully under one's control or easily manipulated. Often used in set phrases like 掌中に収める.

He has the company completely in the palm of his hand.

その秘ひ策さくで、彼かれは敵てきを掌しょう中ちゅうにした。

With that secret plan, he had the enemy in his grasp.

〈物もの〉を掌しょう中ちゅうに収おさめるto bring something fully under one's control
彼かれはその会かい社しゃを掌しょう中ちゅうに収おさめた。
He brought the company fully under his control.
〈物もの〉が掌しょう中ちゅうにあるto be within one's grasp or control
勝しょう利りは我われ々われの掌しょう中ちゅうにある。
Victory is within our grasp.

手しゅ中ちゅうN1
手中 also means 'in one's hand' and is more common in everyday contexts, while 掌中 emphasizes the palm and often carries a nuance of complete control or manipulation.
掌しょう握あく
掌握 is a suru-verb meaning to grasp or seize control of something, whereas 掌中 is a noun used in set phrases like 掌中に収める to express the same idea of being under one's control.

焼しょう酎ちゅうN1
掌中 (in one's grasp) and 焼酎 (a distilled Japanese liquor) are pronounced identically but are completely unrelated in meaning.

Compound of 掌 (palm of the hand) and 中 (inside). The figurative sense of control derives naturally from the image of holding something in one's palm.