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在握 (zài wò) — to be in one's hands; to be under firm control

Definition

A set-phrase verb meaning 'to be firmly in hand / under control.' Used for abstract situations like victory, the overall situation, or power — never for literal physical grasping.

verb
to be in one's handsto be under firm control

Examples

  • 在握，。
    Shèng lì yǐ jīng zài wò, wǒ men jué bù néng fàng sōng.
    Victory is already in hand; we must not relax at all.
  • 在握，。
    Dà jú zài wò, bú bì guò yú dān xīn.
    The overall situation is under control; there's no need to worry too much.
  • 在握。
    Gōng sī de kòng zhì quán wán quán zài wò.
    The company's control is completely in his hands.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàiin
握wògrasp

在 means in, and 握 means grasp, so the thing is in a person’s grasp.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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