Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
손에 쥐다 son-e jwida
To grip a physical object tightly in one's hand, driven by physical tension, anxiety, or fierce protectiveness.
What does 손에 쥐다 mean?
손에 쥐다 (son-e jwida) means: To grip a physical object tightly in one's hand, driven by physical tension, anxiety, or fierce protectiveness.
Speakers use this to describe the physical action of closing the hand firmly around an object. It appears in contexts where someone holds onto a tangible item with noticeable force or physical tension. It commonly pairs with specific nouns naming graspable objects like documents, handles, or small items.
Depending on the surrounding context, this can sometimes feel slightly more deliberate or tense than a simple casual hold, often hinting at physical anxiety, protective attachment, or sudden urgency.
Depending on the surrounding context, this can sometimes feel slightly more deliberate or tense than a simple casual hold, often hinting at physical anxiety, protective attachment, or sudden urgency.
🎙️ 손에 쥐다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [소네 쥐다]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 그는 중요한 서류를 손에 쥐었다.
geu-neun jung-han seo-ryu-reul son-e jwi-eot-da.
He clutched the important document in his hand.
💡 Describes gripping a physical paper tightly. - 아이가 인형을 손에 쥐고 놓지 않았다.
a-i-ga in-hyeong-eul son-e jwi-go noh-ji anh-at-da.
The child held the doll tightly in their hand and wouldn't let go.
💡 Shows protective gripping of a toy. - 그녀는 떨리는 손에 펜을 쥐었다.
geu-nyeo-neun tteol-li-neun son-e pen-eul jwi-eot-da.
She gripped the pen in her shaking hand.
💡 Combines physical tension with holding an object.
Related words in Social Situations
손에 땀을 쥐다 Son-e ttam-eul jwida손을 놓다 Son-eul noh-da손을 벌리다 Soneul beollida손이 크다 soni keuda수수하다 su-su-ha-da