The Meaning of nigiru [握る] In Japanese

握る
にぎる
Romaji: nigiru N5

What does 握る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to grip, to grasp, to seize, to hold, to clench

Definition

What does 握る mean? It means to grip or grasp something firmly with the hand. It denotes taking hold of an object by surrounding it with the fingers, often with intention or force, and can be extended to hold or maintain control in various contexts.

Type

verb (godan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • To grip or hold something physically with the hand
  • To seize an opportunity or understand something by grasping its essence
  • To control, dominate, or consolidate power or influence
  • To hold or guide someone by the hand in a protective or guiding sense
  • To form nigiri sushi by hand in cooking contexts

Etymology

握 is the kanji meaning to grip, built from the hand radical and a semantic element related to seizing; when used in the verb 握る, the character conveys the act of grasping with the hand and the -る verb ending marks a dictionary form.

Composition

  • 握 consists of the hand radical and a semantic element denoting gripping; together they convey the action of grasping with the hand.

Usage

Used across registers from casual to formal. It appears in physical contexts such as gripping objects like コップを握る (koppu o nigiru), metaphorical uses like seizing opportunities such as 機会を握る (kikai o nigiru), and in culinary contexts for hand pressing sushi such as 寿司を握る (sushi o nigiru).
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a hand closing tightly around a rope, with the right-side component picturing the grip; the word ends with る, a common verb ending that marks a versatile action you can perform with the hand.

Variations

  • つかむ (つかむ, tsukamu) — to grab or seize
  • 離す (はなす, hanasu) — to release or let go (antonym)
  • 握る itself shares the nuance of a firm grip in different contexts

Example Phrases

  • 会議でペンを握る手が震えた。
    Kaigi de pen o nigiru te ga furieta.
    My hand gripping the pen trembled during the meeting.
    Lista:
    • 会議で (kaigi de) – at the meeting
    • ペンを (pen o) – the pen
    • 握る (nigiru) – to grip
    • 手が (te ga) – hand (subject)
    • 震えた (furieta) – trembled
    Core grammar: 「握る」 is used in the relative clause 「ペンを握る」 modifying 「手」, forming 「ペンを握る手」 meaning ‘the hand that grips the pen’. The verb 「震えた」 expresses past tremble.
握る