Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
抱える (kakaeru) Japanese meaning: hold in one's arms | Kotomora
Common word› JLPT N2 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation 抱える · ichidan verb
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 抱かか える 抱かか えない Polite 抱かか えます 抱かか えません Past polite 抱かか えました 抱かか えませんでした Past 抱かか えた 抱かか えなかった Te-form 抱かか えて 抱かか えないで Desire 抱かか えたい 抱かか えたくない Potential 抱かか えられる also 抱かか えれる 抱かか えられない also 抱かか えれない Passive 抱かか えられる 抱かか えられない Causative 抱かか えさせる 抱かか えさせない Causative passive 抱かか えさせられる 抱かか えさせられない Volitional 抱かか えよう Polite volitional 抱かか えましょう Imperative 抱かか えろ 抱かか えるな Conditional 抱かか えれば 抱かか えなければ Tara conditional 抱かか えたら 抱かか えなかったら
Report an issue with this page
っ
て
き
た
。
She came into the room carrying a large box in her arms.
He was holding his head in his hands, troubled.
Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 を 抱かか える to carry something bulky in one's arms
He walked while carrying a large bag in both arms.
頭あたま を 抱かか える to hold one's head in one's hands (in worry or despair)
I held my head in my hands over the unexpected result.
借しゃっ 金きん を 抱かか える to be burdened with debt
He is burdened with a large amount of debt.
問もん 題だい を 抱かか える to have (unresolved) problems
The company has management problems it's struggling with.
〈 人ひと 〉 を 抱かか える to have dependents to support
She has three children to support.
従じゅう 業ぎょう 員いん を 抱かか える to have employees on staff
The factory has a hundred employees on staff.
Expressions 腹はら を 抱かか える hold one's sides with laughter; roll around laughing 膝ひざ を 抱かか える hug one's knees; sit with knees drawn up 悩なや みを 抱かか える have troubles; have concerns; be burdened with worries 爆ばく 弾だん を 抱かか える carry a bomb; have a bomb about to go off · have an imminent problem; be in danger of relapse Kanji 抱 embrace, hug, hold in arms Related words· 6 抱く is used for holding something smaller or more intimately, such as a child or a pillow, while 抱える is for larger, bulkier items or abstract burdens.
持つ is a general verb for holding or possessing, without the nuance of embracing or bearing a burden that 抱える carries.
背負う evokes carrying a burden on one's back or shouldering responsibility, while 抱える suggests holding a burden close to or wrapped around oneself.
雇う simply means to hire someone, while 抱える implies having staff on an ongoing basis with a sense of responsibility or burden.
Show 2 more 抱える describes carrying a burden, worry, or problem that weighs on you, while 抱く (いだく) is used more broadly for holding an abstract feeling such as a hope, doubt, or ambition in a literary tone.
抱える means to actively hold or carry a burden or problem, while 孕む describes something inherently containing a latent risk or contradiction without an active agent.
Don't confuse with 抱える sounds similar to 堪える but means to hold or carry something (in one's arms, or a problem), not to endure or suppress a feeling.
抱く (だく) means to hug something close against one's chest, while 抱える (かかえる) means to carry or hold something under one's arm or in one's lap without necessarily embracing it.
Word family· 12 armful; something carried in one's arms · employee; person under one's care
personal; private; retained
hold in one's arms; carry in one's arms; embrace · take upon oneself; be saddled with; shoulder
armful; bundle
Written forms 抱かか える Usage 81%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
かかえる Usage 19%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for abstract senses.
Etymology Compound of 抱く (かかく, old form of 抱く) + える (verb-forming suffix). The historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with holding or embracing.
fully financed; under full patronage; sponsored entirely
Show 7 more employer of a geisha or prostitute; master; mistress
employer of a geisha or prostitute; master; mistress
mercenary troops; hired soldiers
employ as a retainer; take into service
hold tightly; hold firmly
gather up into one's arms and lift; scoop up and carry
hold in one's arms; carry in one's arms; embrace