Chinese word

抓住

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhuā zhù

Meaning

  • verbgrab

Example

她马上抓住了机会。tā mǎ shàng zhuā zhù le jī huì

She grabbed the opportunity right away.

Illustration for 抓住 (grab)

More examples

警察终于把小偷抓住了。jǐng chá zhōng yú bǎ xiǎo tōu zhuā zhù le

The police finally caught the thief.

Core concept

A target is seized at the right moment and kept firmly in place, both by hand and in less physical situations.

Common phrases

  • 抓住机会zhuā zhù jī huì

    grab an opportunity

  • 抓住小偷zhuā zhù xiǎo tōu

    catch a thief

Similar words

抓紧zhuā jǐn: To seize an opportunity or use time without delay.
抓到zhuā dào: To succeed in catching or getting hold of something.
握住wò zhù: To grip something securely with the hand and keep holding it.

Definition in Chinese

用手或者用比喻的方式迅速握住并保持，不让其脱离或失去，可指物体、机会或注意点。yòng shǒu huò zhě yòng bǐ yù de fāng shì xùn sù wò zhù bìng bǎo chí bú ràng qí tuō lí huò shī qù kě zhǐ wù tǐ jī huì huò zhù yì diǎn

Word origin

住 (zhù, "stay") works as a result complement after 抓 (zhuā, "grab"), showing that the target remains held rather than merely being contacted.

Usage tips

  • Chinese uses this verb naturally for time-sensitive chances and points of attention, even when no physical object is involved, so everyday uses extend beyond hand movements.

Other meanings

  • catchverb
  • graspverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word