握

By extension: to possess, to command, to maintain authority, or to keep within one’s grasp.

In classical and modern usage alike, 握 implies not only the physical act of holding with the hand, but also the metaphorical control of power, opportunity, or truth — as in 把握 (“to grasp, to seize”) or 掌握 (“to be in charge of”).

Phono-semantic compound:

手 (손 수) — semantic component, indicating the action of the hand.

屋 (집 옥) — phonetic component, providing the sound wò / ak and suggesting enclosure or containment.

Thus, 握 originally depicts a hand enclosing something tightly, reflecting both physical and symbolic possession.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「握，持也。从手，屋聲。」

“握 means to hold; composed of 手 (‘hand’) and the sound 屋.”

This definition preserves its core meaning — firm holding or grasping.

把握 (파악) — to grasp, to comprehend

握手 (악수) — handshake

掌握 (장악) — to take control of; to have mastery over

握權 (악권) — to hold power

握有 (악유) — to possess, to own

握拳 (악권) — to clench the fist

握柄 (악병) — to hold the handle; metaphorically, to have leverage

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 525):

「握，持也。取也。」

“握 means to hold, to take.”

Book of Odes (詩經 · 小雅 · 常棣):

「兄弟既翕，和樂且湛；宜爾室家，樂爾妻帑，握爾之手。」

“Brothers are united in harmony; take your wife’s hand in joy” — 握爾之手 expresses not only physical holding but also mutual fidelity and affection.

Mencius (孟子 · 滕文公上):

「握權而不行仁，則亂也。」

“To hold power without practicing benevolence brings disorder” — Here 握權 (to hold authority) symbolizes control without virtue.

Zuo Commentary (左傳 · 襄公二十五年):

「君子握德，不以小故失之。」

“The noble man holds fast to virtue and does not lose it for small reasons” — 握 is used metaphorically for grasping and preserving moral integrity.

In Confucian ethics, 握 symbolizes steadfastness and moral self-control — to hold one’s virtue firmly amid temptation.

In Daoist texts, it appears in the sense of holding the One (握一) — maintaining unity with the Dao by stillness and inward grasp.

In Buddhist writings, the verb often contrasts with “letting go (捨)” — together forming the dialectic of attachment and release, mastery and detachment.

Throughout Chinese, Korean, and Japanese usage, 握 expresses the essence of firmness and control — whether of objects, power, knowledge, or one’s own heart.

To 握 is thus both to hold physically and to grasp inwardly, uniting the strength of the hand with the steadiness of the mind.