How to say "grasp" in Japanese

• わかるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers the mental sense: use it when 'grasp' means to understand or see, as in grasping an idea or explanation. Nothing is held in the hand here.
  「博ひろし、君きみの気持きもちは分わかるよ」とマイクが言いいます。↗

  "I understand how you feel, Hiroshi," says Mike.
• 把握はあくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA noun for a grasp of a situation, meaning, or state of affairs. Turn to it when English 'grasp' is a noun, as in having a firm grasp of the situation.
  そのスピーチの要点ようてんは把握はあくできた。↗

  I was able to grasp the main points of the speech.
• つかむJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo seize or grip something with the hand, and also used figuratively for getting hold of something abstract, such as an idea or a chance — so it covers mental grasping too.
  だれかが私の腕うでをつかんだ。↗

  Somebody caught me by the arm.
• 握るにぎるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo close the hand firmly around something: clasp, grip, or clutch. Its 'grasp' is the physical act of holding — clasping someone's hand, for instance — not understanding.
  彼かれらが眠ねむっている間あいだ私がハンドルを握にぎった。↗

  I took the wheel while he slept.
• にぎりCommon
  nounA noun for the act of gripping. As a rendering of 'grasp' it is marginal — seldom the word you want: the verb 握る covers the physical sense, 把握 the mental one.

Choose 「わかる」 when grasp means understand, 把握 for a noun-style grasp of a situation, 「つかむ」 for seizing things or getting hold of ideas, 「握る」 for gripping in the hand, and 「にぎり」 only marginally.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• わかるto understand
• 把握はあくgrasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.)
• つかむto seize
• 握るにぎるto clasp
• にぎりgrasping
• 会得えとくunderstanding
• 感じ取るかんじとるto perceive
• 合点がてんconsent
• 見定めるみさだめるto make sure of
• 掴み取るつかみとるto grasp
• 把持はじgrasp
• 見取りみとりperception
• 握り込むにぎりこむto grip
• 見て取るみてとるto perceive
• うかがい知るうかがいしるto infer
• 知るしるto understand
• 捉えるとらえるto grasp (e.g. meaning)
• 捕まえるつかまえるto grab
• つかまるto hold on to
• 飲み込むのみこむto understand
• 汲み取るくみとるto understand (someone's feelings, etc.)
• 捕捉ほそくapprehension
• 押さえるおさえるto grasp (a point)
• 取るとるto take (e.g. a joke)
• 案じるあんじるto stroke
• 案ずるあんずるto stroke