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把持 (bǎ chí) — to monopolize; to dominate (a position, power, etc.); to control (one's emotions, temper, etc.)

Definition

把持 (bǎchí) means to tightly grip power or authority and not let others share it — stronger and more monopolistic than 控制, which is neutral 'to control'. Also used for holding in check one's own emotions.

verb
to monopolizeto dominate (a position, power, etc.)to control (one's emotions, temper, etc.)

Examples

  • 把持。
    Tā bǎ chí zhe gōng sī de cái wù dà quán.
    He holds a monopoly over the company's financial power.
  • 把持。
    Zhè ge bù mén yì zhí bèi shǎo shù rén bǎ chí.
    This department has always been dominated by a few people.
  • 把持。
    Tā nǔ lì bǎ chí zhù zì jǐ de fèn nù.
    She tried hard to control her anger.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

把bǎgrasp
持chíhold

The grasping in 把 and the holding in 持 combine to mean controlling something.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
巴
巴bā把bǎ
Same sound today

把 combines 扌, a hand, with 巴 for its sound.

Open 把 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì持chí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

持 combines 手 (hand), for the idea of holding, with 寺, which gives the sound.

Open 持 →
Appears in
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