Godan verb, transitive verb

  1. to clasp, to grasp, to grip, to clutch.
  2. to hold (the answer), to have (e.g. the solution), to be the key, to be the reason.
  3. to seize (power), to hold (the reins), to dominate, to control.
  4. to make (nigirizushi, rice ball, etc.), to form (with one's hands), to press into shape, to mold.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
握る にぎる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

grip, hold, mould sushi
にぎ.る アク (7th, N1)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
roof, house, shop
や オク た (3rd, N4)
corpse, remains, flag radical (no. 44)
シ かたしろ (Kentei 1)
climax, arrive, proceed
シ いた.る のぶ (6th, N1)
the fore-arm(厷) variant
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ ボウ ム (Kentei 1)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)