握住 (wò zhù) — to hold tight, to grip firmly

Definition

握住 is a resultative verb: 握 (to grasp) + 住 (firmly, in place). It emphasizes holding on and not letting go — stronger than just 握.

verb
to hold tightto grip firmly

Examples

  • 握住，。
    Tā jǐn jǐn dì wò zhù fāng xiàng pán, bù gǎn sōng kāi.
    He held the steering wheel tightly and didn't dare let go.
  • 握住，。
    Tā wò zhù mā ma de shǒu, jī dòng dé shuō bù chū huà lái.
    She held her mother's hand tightly, too moved to speak.
  • 握住，。
    Nǐ yào wò zhù zhè cì jī huì, bú yào zài yóu yù le.
    You need to seize this opportunity; don't hesitate any longer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

握wòhold
住zhùsecurely

“握住” combines “握” (hold) with “住” (securely), giving the sense of gripping tightly.

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
屋
屋wū握wò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

握 has 扌, a hand shape, on the left, and 屋 on the right, which gives its sound.

Open 握 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.