unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
jiā
to coerce
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
jiā
old variant of 夾|夹[jia1]
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
xié
to seize; to hold to one's bosom
v, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
xié
to clasp under the arm
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
xié
to coerce
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
挟
xié
old variant of 夾|夹[jia1]
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #52109, Very Hard
jiā(jia1)
primary
T1
1to seize; to hold to one's bosom
2to clasp under the arm
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March 24, 2026
挟(挾)jiā(jia1)
The character 挟 (jiā) means to seize or hold something closely, often under the arm, or to clasp to one's bosom. It can also imply coercion, where one party exerts pressure on another. This term may be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as holding someone to their word.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#52109DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In historical contexts, 挟 can refer to situations where individuals or groups exert power over others, reflecting themes in Chinese literature and history about authority and control. This can often be seen in tales of political intrigue.
Memory Tip
Imagine you are holding a precious book tightly under your arm (挟) to keep it safe. The action of holding it symbolizes the essence of the character, and the pronunciation 'jiā' sounds like 'jar', which can remind you of holding something important close to you.
Meanings of 挟
jiā(jia1)
primary
1to seize; to hold to one's bosom
2to clasp under the arm
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 挟
挟Simplified
挾Traditional
9Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 挟
Podcast: 挟
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
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AI Study Notes for 挟
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 挟 (jiā) with 夹 (jiā), which means to insert or sandwich between. While both characters share similar pronunciations, they have different meanings and contexts. 使用时要注意语境，挟通常用于表示强迫或控制的情境。
HSK Study Tips
Although 挟 is not part of the official HSK levels, it's related to other words about holding and seizing like 抓 (zhuā) and 拿 (ná). Focus on the context of coercion and physical holding to enhance your understanding and usage of this term.
Common Mistakes
Students often use 挟 incorrectly in informal contexts, mistakenly thinking it means simply to take or hold. For instance, saying '我挟这个书' should be corrected to '我拿这个书' (I take this book).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 挟
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1The giveawayWedged 夹 in one's arms 扌; 夹 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 挟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 挟?
Decomposition of 挟
IDS Structure⿰扌夹
挟Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
夹jia1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 挟?
How to say to seize; to hold to one's bosom in Chinese
“to seize; to hold to one's bosom” in Chinese is挟jiā
The character 挟 (jiā) means to seize or hold something closely, often under the arm, or to clasp to one's bosom. It can also imply coercion, where one party exerts pressure on another. This term may be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as holding someone to their word.
When to use 挟
Be careful not to confuse 挟 (jiā) with 夹 (jiā), which means to insert or sandwich between. While both characters share similar pronunciations, they have different meanings and contexts. 使用时要注意语境，挟通常用于表示强迫或控制的情境。
What learners get wrong
Students often use 挟 incorrectly in informal contexts, mistakenly thinking it means simply to take or hold. For instance, saying '我挟这个书' should be corrected to '我拿这个书' (I take this book).
Write 挟
挟
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Practice writing 挟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 挟
挟 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
劳丽是否知道点什么，并以此要____费莉西蒂呢？
Did Laurie know something, and hold it over Felicity?
