About
The character 挟 is a phono-semantic compound. The hand radical 扌 on the left indicates an action involving the hands or arms, while the right side provides the phonetic element. In the traditional form 挾, this element is 夾, which depicts people pressed together and conveys the sense of squeezing or placing between. The simplified form 挟 replaces 夾 with the structurally similar component 夹. The original meaning refers to the physical act of clasping something tightly under the arm or holding an object between two surfaces. From this concrete gesture of restrictive holding, the character’s sense extended metaphorically to encompass psychological or political coercion, compelling compliance, or harboring hidden agendas. It thus evolved from a literal description of bodily clamping to a broader concept of controlling or pressing others against their will.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他挟着一本书走进了教室。
那个男人挟持了一名女人质。
不要用这件事来要挟我。
他被敌人挟制了很多年。
他们试图挟持飞机以达到目的。
这种政策挟带了太多的个人利益。
他挟着父亲的权势到处炫耀。
这场风暴挟带着暴雨和雷电。