Translation guide
The English word 'catch' covers many actions: capturing a moving object, trapping someone, contracting an illness, understanding something, and more. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being caught and how.
To stop and hold something that is moving through the air or towards you, typically with your hands.
The most common verb for catching a ball or similar object. Often written in kana as とる.
catch a ball
He caught the fly ball skillfully.
Loanword from English, used especially in sports contexts. Sounds slightly more casual/modern.
catch a pass
To catch and stop something, often with a nuance of absorbing the impact. Used for heavier or more forceful objects.
He caught the ball that came flying at him.
To take hold of a person or animal, often after pursuit, or to trap them.
General verb for catching a person or animal, implying grabbing and holding. Can also mean to arrest.
The police caught the criminal.
Can also be used for catching animals, especially in hunting or fishing contexts.
Formal term for capturing animals or people, often used in official or scientific contexts.
capture wild animals
To become infected with a disease.
Used specifically with colds (風邪). The most common way to say 'catch a cold'.
I caught a cold.
General verb for contracting an illness. Often used with specific disease names.
To be infected with a pathogen. More medical/formal than 罹る.
I caught a virus.
To discover someone doing something wrong or secret.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be found out'. The person caught is the subject. Often used with 〜ているところを.
I was caught lying.
Casual verb meaning 'to be exposed' or 'to be found out'. Often used for secrets or misdeeds.
Transitive verb meaning 'to find' or 'to catch someone doing something'. The discoverer is the subject.
To board a vehicle before it departs.
To perceive or comprehend something, especially something not entirely clear.
To catch what someone says, to make out words. Often used when the sound is unclear.
I didn't catch what he said.
To understand, comprehend. More general than 聞き取る.
I didn't catch his joke.
To understand. Very common. Often used in negative form for 'didn't catch'.
To get snagged or entangled.
To make someone notice or become interested.
捕る (とる) is used for catching objects in motion (balls, fish), while 捕まえる (つかまえる) is for seizing people or animals that are trying to escape. 捕まえる implies grabbing and holding, often after pursuit.
The loanword キャッチする is not used for catching a cold or disease. Use 風邪を引く or 病気に罹る instead.
Don't say this
I tried to catch the cat, but it got away.
catch fish
I caught the flu.
He got caught cheating.
彼が盗んでいるところを見つけた。
I caught him stealing.
I caught a taxi.
I didn't catch what you were saying.
I caught my sweater on a nail.
catch a cold