Chinese–EnglishWith examples

掌握

zhǎng wò · zhang wo

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to grasp (often fig.)
  2. to control
  3. to seize (initiative, opportunity, destiny)
  4. to master
  5. to know well
  6. to understand sth well and know how to use it
  7. fluency
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Heat control

  1. Liangliang

    炒菜(chǎocài)最(zuì)难(nán)掌握(zhǎngwò)的(de)是(shì)火候(huǒhou)。

    The hardest part of stir-frying to master is the heat.

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)已经(yǐjīng)掌握(zhǎngwò)了(le)，你(nǐ)看(kàn)。

    I've mastered it already. Look.

  3. Liangliang

    怎么(zěnme)都(dōu)黑(hēi)了(le)？

    Why is everything black?

  4. Dengdeng

    火候(huǒhou)很(hěn)难(nán)掌握(zhǎngwò)，我(wǒ)再(zài)试(shì)一次(yīcì)。

    The heat is hard to master. I'll try once more.

  5. Liangliang

    先(xiān)掌握(zhǎngwò)盐(yán)的(de)多少(duōshao)吧(ba)，上次(shàngcì)太(tài)咸(xián)了(le)。

    First master how much salt to use. Last time it was too salty.

  6. Dengdeng

    放心(fàngxīn)，我(wǒ)已经(yǐjīng)掌握(zhǎngwò)了(le)一个(yīgè)办法(bànfǎ)：叫(jiào)你(nǐ)来(lái)做(zuò)。

    Relax. I've mastered one method: ask you to cook.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

要(yào)掌(zhǎng)握(wò)法(fǎ)语(yǔ)一(yì)点(diǎn)都(dōu)不(bù)容(róng)易(yì)。

It's not easy to master French at all.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by carlosalberto · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

一(yí)个(gè)外(wài)国(guó)语(yǔ)言(yán)无(wú)法(fǎ)在(zài)一(yì)年(nián)左(zuǒ)右(yòu)就(jiù)被(bèi)掌(zhǎng)握(wò)。

A foreign language cannot be mastered in a year or so.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by CC · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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