Explore 挟 through things held between surfaces and breaks inserted into an activity.
The idea
挟 has 9 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 挟む（はさむ） is transitive: use を for what you put or hold between things. 挟まる（はさまる） is intransitive: the caught thing takes が.
Examples
- 本のページにしおりを挟みます。I put a bookmark between the pages of the book.
- 指で紙を挟みます。I hold the paper between my fingers.
- ドアに紙が挟まっています。A piece of paper is caught in the door.
- 会議の途中で短い休憩を挟みます。I take a short break during the meeting.
- 駅の川を挟んだ向かいに公園があります。There is a park on the other side of the river from the station.
- 二枚のパンの間にチーズを挟みます。I put cheese between two slices of bread.
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Watch out
Do not confuse 挟む with 挟まる: the first describes someone inserting something; the second describes something getting caught. 川を挟んで can also mean on opposite sides of a river.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 挟む in hiragana.
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はさむ
挟む is はさむ. For example, しおりを挟む means to insert a bookmark.
Write the reading of 挟まる in hiragana.
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はさまる
挟まる is はさまる. 紙が挟まる describes paper getting caught.
Choose the missing kanji: しおりを＿む［挟／持］.
Show answer or example answer
挟
挟 completes しおりを挟む: inserting a bookmark between pages.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 挟む in hiragana.
Write the reading of 挟まる in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: しおりを＿む［挟／持］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 挟 following the diagram. Cover the examples, read both verbs, and make a sentence about a bookmark.