The Chinese word 挟持 (xiéchí) is a compound verb formed by combining two characters with similar meanings to create a more specific and intense concept: 挟 (xié) originally means "to hold under the arm" or "to coerce," carrying a connotation of physical constraint and pressure, while 持 (chí) means "to hold" or "to grasp." When combined, they amplify each other to mean "to seize and hold someone forcibly," almost always with a threatening or coercive purpose, such as taking a hostage or compelling someone to act against their will, thereby moving from the literal act of holding to a figurative sense of unlawful control and duress.