握 means “grip, grasp”

にぎる · nigiru

Also: hold, mould sushi, bribe

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

にぎる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

アク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) closed around a whole house (屋): picture a grip that holds everything. 握る is to grip, 握手 is a handshake, and nigiri sushi is 握り, rice squeezed into shape in the chef's palm, just like an おにぎり.

Used in 握る (nigiru, to grip), 握手 (akushu, handshake), and 把握 (haaku, grasp/understanding)

More from Grip, Rub & Twist

• 携 carry
• 扱 handle
• 摩 rub
• 撲 strike
• 抽 draw out
• 据 set in place
• 擦 rub
• 把 grasp
• 挿 insert
• 抹 rub out
• 搾 squeeze
• 拭 wipe

Learn 握 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.