扼 (è) — to grip tightly, to clutch; to control, to seize (a strategic point or opportunity)
Definition
扼 (è) is a literary verb meaning 'to grip/hold firmly' (扼住手腕) or 'to seize control of' a key point or resource (扼守要道). Mostly seen in fixed compounds like 扼要, 扼杀, 扼守 — not used in everyday speech.
verb
to grip tightlyto clutchto controlto seize (a strategic point or opportunity)
Easily confused
- 呃èlook-alike(interjection) uh, um (used to indicate hesitation, doubt, or a pause in speech)
- 饿èsound-alikehungry
- 恶èsound-alikeevil, wicked
- 厄èsound-alike(bound form) strategic pass or place
- 鳄èsound-alikecrocodile; alligator (morpheme, used as part of compound words)
- 锷èsound-alikeedge of a blade, sword edge
Examples
- 。Tā yòng lì è zhù dí rén de shǒu wàn.He gripped the enemy's wrist tightly.
- 。Zhè ge gōng sī è zhù le shì chǎng de guān jiàn zī yuán.This company has seized the key resources of the market.
- 扼。Jūn duì zài yào dào shàng è shǒu le sān tiān.The army held the strategic pass for three days.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The left side is 扌, a hand; the right side is 厄, which gives the sound.
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