Definition

1. Noun:

   • A fist: A hand with the fingers curled tightly into the palm, typically for hitting or holding something.
   • The act of holding hands: The action of taking someone's hand in one's own.

2. Verb:

   • To hold (someone's) hand: To take and keep someone's hand in one's own, often as a gesture of affection, guidance, or support.
   • To grasp, to grip: To take and hold something firmly with the hand.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Fist):

  • Anh ấy giơ nắm tay lên. (He raised his fist.)
  • Cô ấy đấm vào tường bằng nắm tay. (She punched the wall with her fist.)

• Noun (Act of holding hands):

  • Một cái nắm tay ấm áp có thể an ủi một đứa trẻ. (A warm handhold can comfort a child.)

• Verb (To hold hands):

  • Mẹ nắm tay con khi băng qua đường. (The mother holds her child's hand when crossing the street.)
  • Họ nắm tay nhau đi dọc bờ biển. (They walk along the beach holding hands.)

• Verb (To grasp):

  • Cô ấy nắm tay vào thành ghế vì lo lắng. (She gripped the arm of the chair because she was anxious.)

Advanced Usage

• "nắm tay chỉ việc": To guide someone's hand to do something; to teach or instruct very meticulously and directly, often implying the learner is passive.

  • Giáo viên phải nắm tay chỉ việc cho học sinh mới. (The teacher has to guide the new student's hand through every task.)

• "trong nắm tay": Literally "in the fist/hand"; under one's control or within one's power.

  • Vận mệnh của công ty nằm trong nắm tay của ông ấy. (The company's fate is in his hands.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nắm (v): To grasp, to hold, to grip. A more general verb.

  • Nắm chặt cơ hội. (To seize the opportunity firmly.)

• Nắm đấm (n): Synonym for "nắm tay" meaning "fist," often with a stronger connotation of punching.

  • Anh ta dọa sẽ dùng nắm đấm. (He threatened to use his fists.)

• Cầm tay (v): To hold hands. Very similar to "nắm tay" but "cầm" can imply a gentler, more passive hold.

  • Bà cầm tay cháu dẫn vào nhà. (The grandmother took her grandchild's hand and led them into the house.)

Synonyms

• Bàn tay nắm lại (n): A closed hand (fist).
• Giữ tay (v): To hold (someone's) hand.
• Níu tay (v): To cling to someone's hand.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nắm tay nhau (v): To hold each other's hands. The reciprocal form.
  • Họ hứa sẽ nắm tay nhau vượt qua khó khăn. (They promised to hold each other's hands to overcome the difficulties.)

Related Idioms

• Nắm tay đặt cật: Literally "to hold the hand and place it on the back"; to guide someone very carefully and supportively from start to finish.

  • Anh ấy nắm tay đặt cật dẫn dắt dự án thành công. (He guided the project to success with meticulous, hands-on support.)

• Một nắm tay: Literally "a fistful"; a small amount that can be held in one hand.

  • Chỉ còn một nắm tay gạo. (There's only a handful of rice left.) Note: This idiom uses "nắm" as a classifier, not the compound "nắm tay".

1. Fist