柄

bǐng

handle, lever, knob; authority

Meaning

Physical: A handle, knob, or grip; specifically the part of a tool or weapon where leverage is applied.
Mechanical/Functional: A lever; the point of control for a mechanism.
Metaphorical: Authority or power, referring specifically to the means of exercising control rather than an abstract right to rule.

Grammar and usage

Noun/Verb Fluidity: Primarily a noun, but can function as a verb meaning "to hold the handle," by extension meaning "to control" or "to manage."
Collocations: Frequently appears with verbs of gripping or manipulation, such as 握 (wò) and 操 (cāo).

Distinctions

柄 vs. 秉 (bǐng): These are closely related and occasionally interchangeable in early texts. Generally, 秉 emphasizes the act of grasping or holding (agency), whereas 柄 refers to the object being held (the instrument).
柄 vs. 權 (quán): While both relate to power, 權 often implies balance, weighing, or discretionary flexibility; 柄 refers to the specific point of access or the instrument used to wield that power.

History and forms

Semantic variant: 秉 (U+68C5).

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.