握 — “Grip / Hold / Mould Sushi / Bribe” in Japanese

Master (高手)あく, にぎ

Radical ⼿ · radical 64 The building block this kanji is filed under

“Grip / Hold / Mould Sushi / Bribe” in Japanese is 握, read aku, nigi (あく, にぎ). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 握手 (handshake).

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What does 握 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	握
Meaning	Grip / Hold / Mould Sushi / Bribe
Readings	あく, にぎ
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	握手 (handshake)

How to read 握

握 is read aku (あく) or nigi (にぎ) depending on the word.

Words with 握

握手
把握

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Kanji read the same way as 握

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

悪あく bad / evil

Updated: 2026-08-28