把 bǎ / bà — (a measure word); (marker for direct-object); to hold; to contain; to grasp; to take hold of
请把门关上。Qǐng bǎ mén guān shàng.Please close the door.
Common words: 把握 (bǎ wò)、把手 (bǎ shǒu)、把戏 (bǎ xì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to grasp"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to grasp", including 把 (bǎ / bà), 持 (chí), 握 (wò). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to grasp" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 把 (bǎ / bà), 持 (chí), 握 (wò) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span bǎ, bà, chí, wò — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 把 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 把 bǎ / bà(a measure word); (marker for direct-object); to hold; to contain; to grasp; to take hold ofUseful words: 把握, 把手
- 持 chíto grasp; to hold; support; manage; direct; maintainUseful words: 支持, 保持
- 握 wòshake hands; to hold; to graspUseful words: 把握, 握手
Common words for these 3 "to grasp" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 把 (bǎ / bà) — so "to grasp" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
把握bǎ wòto grasp (also fig.); to seize; to hold; assurance把手bǎ shǒuto shake hands把戏bǎ xìacrobatics; jugglery; trick; ploy支持zhī chíto be in favor of; to support; to back; support保持bǎo chíto keep; to maintain; to hold; to preserve坚持jiān chíto persevere with; to persist in; to insist on把握bǎ wòto grasp (also fig.); to seize; to hold; assurance握手wò shǒuto shake hands掌握zhǎng wòto grasp (often fig.); to control; to seize (initiative, opportunity, destiny); to master
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to grasp".
持 chí — to grasp; to hold; support; manage; direct; maintain
做任何事都要坚持。Zuò rèn hé shì dōu yào jiān chí.In doing anything, you must persevere.
Common words: 支持 (zhī chí)、保持 (bǎo chí)、坚持 (jiān chí)
握 wò — shake hands; to hold; to grasp
两位老朋友热情地握手。Liǎng wèi lǎo péng you rè qíng de wò shǒu.The two old friends shook hands warmly.
Common words: 把握 (bǎ wò)、握手 (wò shǒu)、掌握 (zhǎng wò)
All 3 characters
Open 把、持、握 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.