JLPT N3 · Verb

握る (nigiru)

握る (にぎる, nigiru) is a Japanese verb meaning “to clasp; to grasp”. It appears in JLPT N3 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: にぎる
Romaji: nigiru
Word class: Godan verb (う-verb) ending in る
Level: JLPT N3 (unofficial)

Meaning

to clasp; to grasp; to grip; to clutch · godan verb, transitive
to hold (the answer); to have (e.g. the solution); to be the key; to be the reason · godan verb, transitive
to seize (power); to hold (the reins); to dominate; to control · godan verb, transitive
to make (nigirizushi, rice ball, etc.); to form (with one's hands); to press into shape; to mold; to mould · godan verb, transitive

Example sentences

彼らが眠っている間私がハンドルを握った。

I took the wheel while he slept.

Tatoeba #98669

刑事はその男が有罪だという確たる証拠を握った。

The detective found absolute proof of the man's guilt.

Tatoeba #176639

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Conjugation of 握る

Godan verb (う-verb) ending in る. Plain and polite forms below; try any other word in the Japanese verb conjugator.

Form	Japanese	Reading
Dictionary	握る	にぎる nigiru
Polite (~masu)	握ります	にぎります nigirimasu
Negative	握らない	にぎらない nigiranai
Polite negative	握りません	にぎりません nigirimasen
Past	握った	にぎった nigitta
Polite past	握りました	にぎりました nigirimashita
Negative past	握らなかった	にぎらなかった nigiranakatta
Te-form	握って	にぎって nigitte
Potential	握れる	にぎれる nigireru
Passive	握られる	にぎられる nigirareru
Causative	握らせる	にぎらせる nigiraseru
Volitional	握ろう	にぎろう nigirou
Imperative	握れ	にぎれ nigire
Conditional (~ba)	握れば	にぎれば nigireba

Kanji in 握る

握

grip, hold, mould sushiアク・にぎ.る · 12 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 握る.

握手あくしゅhandshake把握はあくgrasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.)

Source: JMdict entry 1152720 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.