挟

挾

jiā, xié

夹 + 扌

Definitions

xié (verb) to clasp under the arm; to hold between; to coerce

jiā (verb) to pinch; to press from both sides

Etymology

Wedged 夹 in one's arms 扌; 夹 also provides the pronunciation

About

The character 挟 combines the hand radical 扌 with 夹, which depicts something wedged or squeezed in between and also provides the pronunciation. In the traditional form 挾, the right side is 夾, showing people pressing together and suggesting squeezing or inserting; the simplified 挟 uses the less complex 夹 but preserves the same meaning. Originally, it referred to the physical action of clasping an object tightly under the arm or holding it securely between two surfaces. From this sense of restrictive holding, it expanded metaphorically to describe psychological or political coercion, forcing compliance, or harboring hidden motives, controlling or pressing others against their will.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他挟着一本书走进了教室。

Tā xié zhe yī běn shū zǒu jìn le jiàoshì.

He walked into the classroom holding a book under his arm.

那个男人挟持了一名女人质。

Nà gè nánrén xiéchí le yī míng nǚ rénzhì.

That man held a female hostage under duress.

不要用这件事来要挟我。

Bùyào yòng zhè jiàn shì lái yāoxié wǒ.

Do not use this matter to coerce me.

他被敌人挟制了很多年。

Tā bèi dírén xiézhì le hěnduō nián.

He was controlled by the enemy for many years.

他们试图挟持飞机以达到目的。

Tāmen shìtú xiéchí fēijī yǐ dá dào mùdì.

They attempted to hijack the plane to achieve their goal.

这种政策挟带了太多的个人利益。

Zhè zhǒng zhèngcè xiédài le tài duō de gèrén lìyì.

This policy carries too much personal interest.

他挟着父亲的权势到处炫耀。

Tā xié zhe fùqīn de quánshì dàochù xuànyào.

He flaunts everywhere by leveraging his father's power.

这场风暴挟带着暴雨和雷电。

Zhè chǎng fēngbào xiédài zhe bàoyǔ hé léidiàn.

This storm carries heavy rain and lightning.

Related Characters

Component: 夹

Component: 扌

挟