1.
to grasp, to grip
To hold firmly in the hand.
ハンドルを握る。
To grip the steering wheel.
手を握る。
To hold hands.
拳をぎゅっと握って、悔しさに耐えた。
I clenched my fist tightly and endured the frustration.
2.
to make (sushi)
To mold sushi rice by hand.
寿司を握る。
To make sushi.
職人が一貫ずつ丁寧に握る。
The chef carefully makes each piece of sushi by hand.
おにぎりを握る。
To make rice balls.
3.
to hold (power)
To have control over something.
権力を握る。
To hold power.
秘密を握る。
To hold a secret.
成功の鍵を握っているのは、努力と運だ。
What holds the key to success is effort and luck.
握る is a godan verb meaning "to grasp" or "to grip." It has both literal and figurative uses.
TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞 (transitive)
SENSE 1 - PHYSICAL GRASP:
- ハンドルを握る: to grip the steering wheel
- 手を握る: to hold hands
- 拳を握る: to clench one's fist
SENSE 2 - SUSHI:
- 寿司を握る: to make (hand-pressed) sushi
- 握り寿司: nigiri sushi
SENSE 3 - FIGURATIVE (CONTROL):
- 権力を握る: to hold power
- 秘密を握る: to hold a secret
- 鍵を握る: to hold the key (to something)