捕とらえる

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Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

捕らえる · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	捕とらえる	捕とらえない
Polite	捕とらえます	捕とらえません
Past polite	捕とらえました	捕とらえませんでした
Past	捕とらえた	捕とらえなかった
Te-form	捕とらえて	捕とらえないで
Desire	捕とらえたい	捕とらえたくない
Potential	捕とらえられるalso 捕とらえれる	捕とらえられないalso 捕とらえれない
Passive	捕とらえられる	捕とらえられない
Causative	捕とらえさせる	捕とらえさせない
Causative passive	捕とらえさせられる	捕とらえさせられない
Volitional	捕とらえよう
Polite volitional	捕とらえましょう
Imperative	捕とらえろ	捕とらえるな
Conditional	捕とらえれば	捕とらえなければ
Tara conditional	捕とらえたら	捕とらえなかったら

Meanings

ichidan verb, transitive verb

catch; capture; seize; arrest

Physical capture of a person, animal, or object. Often implies active pursuit or restraint. 捕らえる is the most natural kanji for this sense.

警けい察さつは犯はん人にんを捕とらえた。
The police caught the criminal.
猫ねこがネズミを捕とらえるところを見みた。
I saw the cat catch a mouse.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

grasp; perceive; capture (abstract)

Abstract understanding or representation: grasping meaning, perceiving a situation, or capturing features in a description or image. 捉える is the most natural kanji for this sense.

彼かれは問もん題だいの本ほん質しつを正ただしく捉とらえている。
He correctly grasps the essence of the problem.
この写しゃ真しんは彼かの女じょの優やさしさをよく捉とらえている。
This photo captures her kindness well.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

captivate; move (one's heart)

To deeply impress or move someone emotionally. Often used in literary or formal contexts. 捉える can be used, but 捕らえる is also possible.

その演えん奏そうは聴ちょう衆しゅうの心こころを捕とらえた。
The performance captivated the audience's hearts.

See all 190 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉を捕とらえるto catch/apprehend a person
警けい察さつは逃とう走そう中ちゅうの犯はん人にんをついに捕とらえた。
The police finally caught the fleeing suspect.
機き会かいを捉とらえるto seize an opportunity
彼かれはビジネスチャンスを的てき確かくに捉とらえた。
He accurately seized the business opportunity.
本ほん質しつを捉とらえるto grasp the essence (of something)
この記き事じは問もん題だいの本ほん質しつを鋭するどく捉とらえている。
This article sharply captures the essence of the problem.
特とく徴ちょうを捉とらえるto capture the characteristic features (of something)
この写しゃ真しんは彼かの女じょの表ひょう情じょうの特とく徴ちょうをよく捉とらえている。
This photo captures the distinctive features of her expression well.

Expressions

心こころを捉とらえるcapture one's heart; impress; charm
意い味みを捉とらえるgrasp the meaning; understand the meaning
言こと葉ば尻じりを捉とらえるpounce on someone's words; trip someone up with their own words; cavil at someone's words
とらえどころのないelusive; hard to pin down; vague

Kanji

捉catch, capture
捕catch, capture

Related words· 8

捕つかまえるN4sense 1
捕まえる is the colloquial, hands-on word for physically catching someone or something, while 捉える (捕らえる) sounds more formal and can also describe abstract capture.
捕ほ獲かくN1sense 1
捕獲する is a formal, often biological or legal term for capturing an animal or vessel, whereas 捉える (捕らえる) is broader and can apply to people too.
把は握あくN1sense 2
把握する means to firmly grasp or get a handle on facts or a situation, while 捉える focuses more on perceiving or interpreting an essence or feature.
理り解かいN3sense 2
理解する is a general, neutral word for understanding, while 捉える carries a nuance of actively interpreting or pinning down a specific aspect.

Show 4 more

魅み了りょう sense 3
魅了する directly means to captivate or fascinate someone, while 捉える (as in 心を捉える) implies the same idea more indirectly through the image of 'seizing' the heart.
獲とる
捕らえる means to seize or capture a living thing, often with force, while 獲る emphasizes obtaining prey or a prize through skill or effort.
受うけ止とめるN1
捉える focuses on grasping or perceiving the meaning of something, whereas 受け止める emphasizes emotionally receiving and coping with it.
取とり押おさえるN2
捕らえる is a slightly literary word meaning to catch or seize, while 取り押さえる specifically stresses forcibly restraining a struggling person.

Opposites

逃にがすN3sense 1
逃がす means to let something escape or set it free, the direct opposite of 捉える in the sense of catching or capturing.
放はなつN1
捕らえる means to catch or capture, the direct opposite of 放つ's sense of setting something free.
逃のがすN2
捕らえる means to catch or capture, the opposite of 逃す's sense of letting a captive escape.

Don't confuse with

促うながすN1
促す (うながす, 'to urge/prompt') has a visually similar kanji to 捉える but means something entirely different—prompting action rather than catching or grasping.

Word family

捉とらえどころ
key to understanding; point of an argument; something to grasp
捉とらえ方かた
way of interpreting; perception; understanding

Written forms

捕とらえるUsage9%
Preferred for physical capture, arrest, or seizing. High priority.
とらえるUsage54%
捉とらえるUsage31%
Common for abstract senses such as grasping meaning or capturing features. Also used for physical capture, but 捕らえる is more specific for that.
捕とらえるUsage6%
Variant of 捕らえる, less common but still used.

Etymology

The modern form continues classical 捕らふ “catch, seize, grasp.” The spellings 捕らえる and 捉える distinguish physical capture from figurative apprehension in some contexts.