挟みます（はさみます、hasamimasu）
- to hold between

The Japanese verb 挟みます (読み方: はさみます) means "to pinch," "to hold between," "to insert," "to sandwich," or "to clip." It describes the action of placing something between two other things or using something to hold another thing in place. The meaning can vary depending on the context, but the core idea involves something being positioned or held between two other objects or surfaces.

⚫︎ 手と手の間に紙を挟みます。 Translation: I put the paper between my hands. ⚫︎ 服の間にハンカチを挟みます。 Translation: I put a handkerchief between the clothes. ⚫︎ 書類をクリップで挟みます。 Translation: I clip the documents together.

⚫︎ 挟みます is used in situations where you are physically placing something between other things. ⚫︎ It can describe actions like clipping papers together, putting a bookmark in a book, inserting a document into a folder, or holding a piece of food between two slices of bread (sandwiching). ⚫︎ The particle を is usually used to mark the object being [挟み]ます (pinched/held/inserted). ⚫︎ The particle に can also be used to indicate where something is [挟み]ed.

⚫︎ The verb 挟みます is written as 挟みます in kanji. ⚫︎ The reading is はさみます in hiragana. ⚫︎ The verb stem is 挟み. ⚫︎ The okurigana is ます. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 挟む: This is the dictionary form (plain form) of 挟みます. ⚫︎ 入れる (ireru): "to put in" or "to insert" (more general and doesn't necessarily imply holding between). ⚫︎ 挟まる (hasamaru): This is the passive or intransitive form of 挟みます, meaning "to be caught between" or "to get stuck between." ⚫︎ 挟み込む (hasamikomu): "to squeeze in", "to cram in"

There isn't a single direct antonym. The opposite action could be considered: ⚫︎ 外す (hazusu): "to remove," "to detach" (this is the closest). ⚫︎ 出す (dasu): "to take out" or "to pull out."

本の間にしおりを挟みます。 ・Translation: I put a bookmark between the pages of the book. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 挟みます used to describe inserting a bookmark (しおり) between the pages (本の間).

服の間に防虫剤を挟んでおくと、虫食いを防げます。 ・Translation: If you put a moth repellent between your clothes, you can prevent them from being eaten by insects. ・Explanation: This sentence shows 挟みます used to describe placing a moth repellent between clothes (服の間) to prevent insect damage.

The kanji 挟 (hasa-) combines radicals that indicate the act of holding or pressing together. The verb form 挟む and its polite form [挟み]ます derive from this kanji and describe the action of pinching or holding between two things.