把握|はあくhaaku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbgrasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.); understanding; control; hold; grip
    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.
Conjugation
Dictionary form把握する(はあくする)
Polite (masu)把握します(はあくします)
Negative (nai)把握しない(はあくしない)
polite (masen)把握しません(はあくしません)
classical zu / nu把握せず・把握せぬ(はあくせず・はあくせぬ)
Past (ta)把握した(はあくした)
polite (mashita)把握しました(はあくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)把握しなかった(はあくしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)把握しませんでした(はあくしませんでした)
Te form把握して(はあくして)
Potential把握できる(はあくできる)
Passive把握される(はあくされる)
Causative把握させる(はあくさせる)
Causative passive把握させられる(はあくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)把握すれば(はあくすれば)
tara把握したら(はあくしたら)
Volitional把握しよう(はあくしよう)
polite (mashou)把握しましょう(はあくしましょう)
Imperative把握しろ(はあくしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym捉えるとらえるNeutralUsed for catching or seizing people and things, capturing key points or chances, and grasping ideas; 「把握」 is about mastering a situation or key points, as in 「要点を把握する」.
  • SynonymつかむNeutralSeizing or gripping something and obtaining it, also grasping the essentials; 「把握」 is more formal, about clearly mastering a situation or key points.
  • Synonym理解りかいNeutralCovers understanding and sympathy; 「把握」 centers on mastering concrete facts and data.
  • Synonym会得えとくWrittenWritten word for taking in the meaning of something and making it one's own, such as mastering an art; 「把握」 centers on grasping the current state of things.
  • Synonym分かりわかりNeutralUnderstanding, mostly seen in the compound 「物分かり」; 「把握」 is about having a grasp of something.
  • Synonym解するかいするWrittenWritten word for understanding or interpreting something; 「把握」 centers on grasping the actual state of affairs.
  • Synonym了解りょうかいNeutralAcknowledging you understand or accept, as in 「了解しました」; 「把握」 centers on grasping the full picture.
  • SynonymわかるNeutralThe everyday word for understanding or something becoming clear; 「把握」 is more formal.
  • Synonym把捉はそくWrittenWritten word for grasping a meaning; rare, with 「把握」 the usual choice.
  • Synonym飲み込みのみこみNeutralRefers to how quickly you pick things up, as in 「飲み込みが早い」; 「把握」 is about having a firm grasp of something.
  • Synonym領得りょうとくWrittenWritten word for understanding, also used for taking another's property; 「把握」 is much more common.
  • Related納得なっとくNeutralBeing convinced and accepting something as reasonable; 「把握」 centers on grasping a situation.
  • Related飲み込むのみこむNeutralMeans to swallow, or to take something in and catch on; 「把握」 centers on grasping the whole situation.
  • Related汲み取るくみとるNeutralReading and sensing another person's feelings or unspoken intent; 「把握」 centers on grasping facts.
  • Related読み取るよみとるNeutralReading meaning out of text or expressions, or reading data; 「把握」 centers on overall mastery of a situation.
  • Related掴み取るつかみとるNeutralGrabbing and taking something in hand, stressing the physical action; 「把握」 centers on grasping a situation.
  • Antonym不明ふめいNeutralUnclear or undetermined; stands opposite to 「把握」 as mastery of a situation.
  • Antonym無知むちNeutralLacking knowledge or insight; not a strict opposite — failing to grasp something is normally expressed as 「把握していない」.

Use 「把握」 for clearly grasping a situation or the key points, as in 「現状を把握する」 and 「要点を把握する」. For seizing a chance or moment, use 「捉える」 or 「掴む」; for understanding, 「理解」; for something being clear to you, 「分かる」; for something being unclear, 「不明」. The other words cover specific shades: quick uptake (「飲み込み」), being convinced (「納得」), reading feelings (「汲み取る」) or data (「読み取る」), and written-style options like 「把捉」, 「会得」, 「解する」 and 「領得」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 掌中しょうちゅうに収おさめつかみとること。
  2. 統制とうせい下かに置おくこと。掌握しょうあく。
  3. 物事ものごとの順序じゅんじょをしっかりと掴つかみ理解りかいすること。また認識にんしきすること。正確せいかくな情報じょうほうを得えること。
  4. 掌中しょうちゅうに収おさめつかみとる。
  5. 物事ものごとの順序じゅんじょをしっかりと掴つかみ理解りかいする。
  6. わかった。理解りかいした。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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