攫
abduct
Readings
On'yomi
- カク
Kun'yomi
- さら.う
- つか.む
Meaning
攫 centers on seizing or snatching away, especially by force or stealth: to abduct or grab suddenly.
Most common words using 攫
- 攫うさらうN1
to carry off; to run away with; to sweep away; to snatch; to kidnap; to abduct
- 一攫千金いっかくせんきん
getting rich quick; making a killing; making a fortune at a single stroke
- 一攫千金を夢見るいっかくせんきんをゆめみる
to dream of making a fortune at one stroke; to dream of getting rich quickly
- 一攫千金を夢見る男いっかくせんきんをゆめみるおとこ
Soldier of Fortune (1955 movie)
- 引っ攫うひっさらう
to kidnap; to abduct; to snatch; to carry people away; to take by force
- 掻っ攫うかっさらう
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to nab
Study
Etymology
攫 combines 扌 (hand) with 矍, a component associated with looking around in alarm. The hand radical suggests a sudden grabbing or snatching motion, fitting the meaning of abduction.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a hand 扌, and the right side 矍 looks like a startled eye 目 over a bird 隹 and a hand 又. Imagine a hand reaching out to snatch a startled bird—that's abduction.
Reading mnemonic
For カク, picture a kidnapper grabbing someone and locking them in a cage: cage -> カク, and the hand 扌 does the snatching.