劫持 (jié chí) is a verb meaning 'to hijack' or 'to take hostage'. It combines two characters: 劫 (jié), which means 'to rob', 'to plunder', or 'to seize by force', and 持 (chí), which means 'to hold', 'to grasp', or 'to maintain'. Together, they convey the idea of forcibly seizing and holding control over someone or something—most commonly a person, vehicle, or aircraft—against their will. The term carries strong connotations of violence, coercion, and illegality.

It is used primarily in formal, news, legal, or security-related contexts—not in casual conversation. Common collocations include 劫持人质 (jié chí rénzhì, 'to take hostages'), 劫持飞机 (jié chí fēijī, 'to hijack an aircraft'), and 劫持车辆 (jié chí chēliàng, 'to hijack a vehicle'). Because of its serious implications, 劫持 is never used metaphorically or lightly—it always describes real, unlawful acts of coercion and control.