Japanese Conversation · Level 103
60 words
Japanese word
挟む
Pronunciation
Romajihasamu
Meaning
- verbhold between
Example
箸で豆を挟みます。hashi de mame o hasa mi ma su
I hold a bean between my chopsticks.
More examples
読みかけの本を脇に挟みます。yo mi ka ke no hon o waki ni hasa mi ma su
I hold the book I am reading under my arm.
Core concept
Places something in the space between two things so it is held there or kept from moving.
Common phrases
箸で挟むhashi de hasa mu
pick up with chopsticks
指の間に挟むyubi no aida ni hasa mu
hold between the fingers
脇に挟むwaki ni hasa mu
hold under the arm
Similar words
挟み込むhasamikomu: To put something firmly into a narrow space between other things.
差し挟むsashihasamu: To insert something between two things or into a gap.
つまむtsumamu: To hold or pick up something lightly between the fingers.
Definition in Japanese
物を二つの物の間に入れて、そこに保つ。mono o futa tsu no mono no aida ni i re te so ko ni tamo tsu
Word origin
挟む (hasamu, "to hold between") is a native Japanese verb whose basic sense is placing something in the gap between two things; its exact older derivation is not certain.
Usage tips
- 挟む (hasamu) also describes putting a note between pages, so the idea is not limited to gripping with fingers or chopsticks.