Meaning of 抓住
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to grab hold of; to capture
How to use 抓住
抓住 is used for physically catching or holding something, and also for abstract things like a chance or a key point. 住 here is a result complement showing the action succeeds and holds. Example: 他抓住了这个机会。(Tā zhuāzhù le zhège jīhuì.) He seized this opportunity.
抓 (zhuā) has the hand radical 扌 on the left, so picture a hand grabbing something. 住 (zhù) means to stay, so 抓住 is grabbing something so it stays in your hand.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 抓 (zhuā) with 爪 (zhǎo/zhuǎ, claw), which is the right part of 抓 but has no hand radical and a different tone. Some also mix up 抓住 and 抓紧 (zhuājǐn). 抓住 means to catch and hold, while 抓紧 stresses gripping tightly or not wasting time.
抓住 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
抓 zhuā · to grab · 7 strokes
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住 zhù · to live · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 抓住.
| 记住 | jìzhù | to remember; to bear in mind |
| 站住 | zhànzhù | to come to a stop; to halt; to keep one's footing; to stay upright |
| 住院 | zhùyuàn | to stay in hospital; to be hospitalized |
| 住房 | zhùfáng | housing |
| 抓紧 | zhuājǐn | to keep a firm grip on; to pay close attention to |
| 居住 | jūzhù | to reside; to dwell |
| 忍不住 | rěn bu zhù | cannot help; unable to bear |
| 住宅 | zhùzhái | residence; dwelling; abode |
| 住处 | zhùchù | residence; dwelling |
| 住址 | zhùzhǐ | address |
| 住宿 | zhùsù | to stay at; lodging |
| 住户 | zhùhù | household; inhabitant |
Questions about 抓住
What does 抓住 mean?
抓住 (zhuāzhù) means "to grab hold of; to capture".
How do you write 抓住?
抓住 is made of 2 characters: 抓 (7 strokes), 住 (7 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 抓住 an HSK word?
Yes. 抓住 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say I couldn't catch it with 抓住?
Put 不 between the parts: 抓不住 (zhuā bu zhù) means unable to grab hold. For example, 我抓不住他。(Wǒ zhuā bu zhù tā.) I can't catch him.
Does 住 in 抓住 mean the same as in 住院?
Not exactly. In 住院 (zhùyuàn), 住 means to live or stay somewhere. In 抓住 and 记住 (jìzhù), 住 is a complement meaning the action holds firm, like something staying fixed in place.