TraceHanzi

把握 meaning in English

bǎwò

to grasp (also fig.); to seize

HSK 3verbnoun19 strokes

Meaning of 把握

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

bǎwò
  1. to grasp (also fig.)
  2. to seize
  3. to hold
  4. assurance
  5. certainty
  6. sure (of the outcome)

How to use 把握

As a verb, 把握 means to seize or grasp something abstract, like a chance or the key point. As a noun, it means confidence about an outcome, often in the pattern 有/没有把握. Example: 这次考试我很有把握。(Zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ hěn yǒu bǎwò.) I am confident about this exam.

Both 把 (bǎ) and 握 (wò) have the hand radical 扌 on the left, so picture two hands closing tightly around something. When you hold an opportunity that firmly, you also feel sure of the result.

Common mistake: Learners often say 我很把握 to mean "I am sure." You need 有, as in 我很有把握 (wǒ hěn yǒu bǎwò). Also keep 握 (wò) apart from 屋 (wū, room). They share the 屋 part, but 握 adds the hand radical.

把握 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

好hǎo好hǎo把bǎ握wò这zhè个ge机jī会huì。
Make good use of this opportunity.
买mǎi房fáng要yào量liàng力lì而ér行xíng，但dàn也yě要yào把bǎ握wò时shí机jī。
One needs to buy a house that's within one's means, but one also needs to grasp an opportunity.
我wǒ很hěn后hòu悔huǐ当dāng时shí没méi有yǒu把bǎ握wò机jī会huì认rèn识shí她tā。
I regret missing the chance to meet her.
你nǐ要yào好hǎo好hǎo把bǎ握wò这zhè个ge时shí机jī。
You should make good use of this opportunity.
勇yǒng气qì是shì一yí个gè奇qí怪guài的de东dōng西xī：没méi有yǒu任rèn何hé人rén对duì它tā有yǒu把bǎ握wò
Courage is a strange thing: One can never be sure of it.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

把 bǎ · to hold · 7 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

握 wò · to hold · 12 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12

Related words

Words that share a character with 把握.

握手wòshǒuto shake hands
掌握zhǎngwòto grasp (often fig.); to control
把手bǎshouto shake hands
把柄bǎbǐnghandle; (fig.) information that can be used against sb
把关bǎguānto guard a pass; to check on sth
一把手yībǎshǒuworking hand; member of a work team; participant; the boss (short form of 第一把手[di4 yi1 ba3
把门bǎménto stand as a goalkeeper; to keep guard on a gate
把戏bǎxìacrobatics; jugglery; trick; ploy
把头bǎtóulabor contractor; gangmaster
握住wòzhùto grip; to hold
把酒bǎjiǔto raise one's wine cup
火把huǒbǎtorch

Questions about 把握

What does 把握 mean?

把握 (bǎwò) means "to grasp (also fig.); to seize" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 把握?

把握 is made of 2 characters: 把 (7 strokes), 握 (12 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.

Is 把握 an HSK word?

Yes. 把握 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 把握 and 掌握?

掌握 (zhǎngwò) usually means to master or control knowledge or skills, like 掌握技术 (master a technique). 把握 is more about seizing a moment or being confident, like 把握机会 (seize the opportunity). Only 把握 works as a noun meaning certainty.

How do I say how confident I am using 把握?

You can add a percentage with 的: 我有百分之八十的把握 (wǒ yǒu bǎi fēn zhī bāshí de bǎwò), meaning "I am 80 percent sure." To say you are not sure, use 没有把握 (méiyǒu bǎwò).

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