What does 掌握 mean in Chinese?

掌握 (zhǎng wò) means "to grasp (often fig.); to control; to seize (initiative, opportunity, destiny); to master; to know well; to understand sth well and know how to use it; fluency" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 掌握?

掌握 is pronounced "zhǎng wò" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 2 syllables.

What HSK level is 掌握?

掌握 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam.

What characters make up 掌握?

掌握 is made up of the characters 掌, 握. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.

How do you write 掌握?

You can practice writing 掌握 using our stroke order tool.

掌握 (zhǎng wò), to grasp (often fig.)

掌握

zhǎng wò

to grasp (often fig.); to control; to seize (initiative, opportunity, destiny); to master

HSK 5verb

Characters in This Word

掌握

Definitions

(verb) to grasp (often fig.)
to control
to seize (initiative, opportunity, destiny)
to master
to know well
to understand sth well and know how to use it
fluency

Example Sentences

他已经掌握了三门外语。

Tā yǐjīng zhǎngwò le sān mén wàiyǔ

He has already mastered three foreign languages

→

心里有数(xīn lǐ yǒu shù)· to know the score (idiom)

→

明知(míng zhī)· to be fully aware of

→

博而不精(bó ér bù jīng)· extensive but not refined (idiom); to know something about everything

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 5 list

掌握: HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 掌握 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

掌握