Describes holding, pressing, or fixing something firmly and tightly, often with a sense of strong pressure or closeness.
She tightly grasped my hand.
Used for a sharp, keen sensation or feeling, often emotional or sensory, such as a piercing cold or a strong impression.
The cold pierced me sharply.
The child clung tightly to their mother.
His words struck me keenly.
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 犇と and 緊と are rare and not commonly used.
Rare kanji form; the character 犇 is not in common use.
Rare kanji form; the character 緊 is not in common use for this word.
The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese adverb. The kanji forms 犇と and 緊と are rare and likely chosen for their semantic association with crowding or tightness.