抓住

• Pinyin: zhuā zhù
• Hanzi breakdown: 抓 = 扌 (hand) + 爪 (claw); 住 = 亻 (person) + 主 (master, stay)

Meaning

To grab hold of; to seize; to catch firmly. Emphasises successfully gripping or capturing something.

A resultative complement form of 抓 where 住 indicates the action is completed and the object is secured. Used literally for physical gripping and figuratively for seizing abstract things like opportunities, key points, or moments. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 她紧紧抓住了妈妈的手。 She held tightly onto her mother's hand.
2. 你要抓住每一次学习的机会。 You should seize every opportunity to learn.
3. 风太大了，请抓住你的帽子。 The wind is too strong, please hold onto your hat.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, encouragement, figurative

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 抓住这个机会去留学吧！(Seize this opportunity to study abroad!)
• 孩子抓住了树枝没有掉下来。(The child grabbed the branch and didn't fall.)

Don't Say

• 我抓住了一个想法。(For abstract ideas, 抓住 sounds unnatural — use 想到了 or 有了一个想法 instead; 抓住 works for opportunities or key points, not random thoughts)

Origin & History

抓 (grab) + 住 (hold, stay). The complement 住 indicates the grabbing action has succeeded and the object is held firmly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal