Translation guide
The English verb 'capture' covers several distinct meanings: physically catching or trapping, taking control of a place or person, recording or preserving something, and expressing or encapsulating an idea or feeling. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these core meanings, from most common to more niche uses.
To physically seize, catch, or trap a person, animal, or criminal.
The most common and versatile word for catching or capturing someone or something physically. Used for criminals, animals, and even grabbing a person.
The police captured the criminal.
The cat caught a mouse.
A more formal term, often used for capturing animals, especially in official or scientific contexts.
Capturing wild animals is prohibited.
Specifically means to capture alive. Used for animals or enemies in historical contexts.
They captured the enemy general alive.
To seize or gain control over a place, object, or information, often by force or strategy.
Used for occupying or capturing territory, cities, or buildings, especially in military contexts.
The enemy army captured the capital.
Emphasizes seizing or wresting control, often used for capturing equipment, flags, or abstract things like power.
They captured the enemy's flag.
Often used for capturing a fortress or stronghold in games or historical contexts; also means to conquer or clear a game level.
It took three months to capture the castle.
To hijack or take over control, used for vehicles, accounts, or systems.
To capture something in a lasting form, such as a photo, video, audio, or data.
Specifically for capturing images or video with a camera.
I captured a beautiful sunset.
For capturing audio or sound.
I captured the content of the meeting on audio.
General term for recording or documenting, including data, events, or moments.
I captured that moment in a photo.
Loanword from English, used mainly in computing for screen captures or data capture.
Please capture the screen.
To represent or convey something accurately, such as a mood, spirit, or quality.
To grasp or capture an abstract concept, feeling, or essence. Often used in artistic or descriptive contexts.
His painting captures the spirit of the era well.
To express or represent; broader than 'capture', but often used when talking about capturing a feeling in words or art.
To depict or portray; used when capturing a scene or character in detail.
To engage and hold someone's attention or interest.
Also used for capturing attention or imagination, similar to the abstract sense above.
The movie captured the audience's hearts.
To attract or draw in; often used for capturing interest or attention.
To captivate or fascinate; stronger than just capturing attention, implies enchantment.
Her singing voice captured the listeners.
捕まえる is the everyday word for catching or capturing, used for criminals, animals, or even grabbing a friend. 捕獲する is formal and often used in official reports or wildlife management.
The child caught a bug.
Capture of endangered species is regulated by law.
When 'capture' means to express or encapsulate, do not use physical capture words like 捕まえる. Use 捉える or 表現する instead.
The photo captures the beauty of the landscape.
They captured the enemy fortress.
ハッカーがシステムを乗っ取った。
A hacker captured the system.
Those words capture my feelings perfectly.
The novel vividly captures life at that time.
His story captured the audience's attention.