About
The character 柄, structurally composed of the semantic element 木 (wood) and the phonetic element 丙, etymologically referred to a handle or haft made from wood. This construction directly informed its early concrete meaning, denoting the part of a tool or weapon meant to be gripped. Over time, the semantic range of 柄 extended beyond physical objects to encompass abstract notions, whereby the concept of a handle evolved metaphorically into terms for authority, control, or a basis for action, as seen in compounds like 权柄 (power) and 把柄 (hold, leverage), while also developing uses such as 话柄 to indicate a subject or pretext for talk.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这把伞的柄断了。
刀柄上刻有花纹。
别让人抓住你的把柄。
他的失误成了笑柄。
掌握权柄的人要负责任。
由于把柄落在对方手里，他不得不妥协。
那个腐败官员的权柄最终被剥夺了。
在历史上，许多统治者因滥用权柄而失去民心。