握る|にぎるnigiru[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto clasp; to grasp; to grip; to clutch
- godan verb, transitive verbto hold (the answer); to have (e.g. the solution); to be the key; to be the reason
- godan verb, transitive verbto seize (power); to hold (the reins); to dominate; to control
- godan verb, transitive verbto make (nigirizushi, rice ball, etc.); to form (with one's hands); to press into shape; to mold; to mould
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 握る（にぎる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 握ります（にぎります） |
| Negative (nai) | 握らない（にぎらない） |
| polite (masen) | 握りません（にぎりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 握らず・握らぬ（にぎらず・にぎらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 握った（にぎった） |
| polite (mashita) | 握りました（にぎりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 握らなかった（にぎらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 握りませんでした（にぎりませんでした） |
| Te form | 握って（にぎって） |
| Potential | 握れる（にぎれる） |
| Passive | 握られる（にぎられる） |
| Causative | 握らせる（にぎらせる） |
| Causative passive | 握らせられる・握らされる（にぎらせられる・にぎらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 握れば（にぎれば） |
| tara | 握ったら（にぎったら） |
| Volitional | 握ろう（にぎろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 握りましょう（にぎりましょう） |
| Imperative | 握れ（にぎれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym握り締めるにぎりしめるNeutralGrips something tightly with force, e.g. 「拳を握り締める」; stronger than 「握る」 in stressing the force and firmness of the hold.
- SynonymつかむNeutralSeizes or catches hold with the hand, e.g. 「腕を掴む」; the focus is on grabbing, while 「握る」 is on closing the fingers to grip. Also used for seizing chances or the knack.
- Synonym握り込むにぎりこむNeutralSqueezes something into the palm and holds it there, e.g. 「コインを握り込む」; stresses enclosing it in the hand and is used less often than 「握る」.
- Related把握はあくNeutralUnderstanding or getting a grasp of a situation, e.g. 「状況を把握する」; 「握る」 is mostly a hand action or holding power or leverage.
- Related把持はじWrittenWritten/formal word for holding something firmly and not letting go, e.g. 「権力を把持する」; found in written or technical prose; everyday speech uses 「握る」.
- Antonym放すはなすNeutralLets go of what is in the hand, e.g. 「手を放す」; the opposite of 「握る」 in the sense of holding something in the hand.
Use 「握る」 for closing your hand around something or for holding power or a secret. For a tight, forceful grip say 「握り締める」; for grabbing hold, 「掴む」; for grasping a situation, 「把握」; for holding power in formal prose, 「把持」; to let go, 「放す」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
