虜とりこ

と

り

こ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

captive; prisoner

Literal sense: a person captured and held against their will, especially in war or conflict.

敵てきの虜とりこになった兵へい士したちは捕ほ虜りょ収しゅう容よう所じょに送おくられた。
The soldiers who became captives of the enemy were sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

noun

captive of love; slave to passion

Figurative sense: someone completely captivated by love, desire, or a strong emotion; often used in romantic or dramatic contexts.

彼かれは彼かの女じょの魅み力りょくの虜とりこになった。
He became a captive of her charm.
甘あまいものの虜とりこで、毎まい日にちケーキを食たべてしまう。
I'm a slave to sweets and end up eating cake every day.

Usage patterns

〜の虜とりこになるto become captivated by ~; to fall completely under the spell of ~
彼かの女じょはその音おん楽がくの虜とりこになった。
She became completely captivated by that music.
〈人ひと〉を虜とりこにするto captivate someone; to steal someone's heart
その笑え顔がおは多おおくの人ひとを虜とりこにした。
That smile captivated many people.
〈相あい手て〉の虜とりこになるto become a prisoner/captive of an enemy or opposing force
兵へい士したちは敵てきの虜とりこになった。
The soldiers became prisoners of the enemy.

Kanji

虜captive, barbarian, low epithet for the enemy
擒capture, a captive
俘captive

Related words

捕ほ虜りょN1sense 1
捕虜 specifically means a prisoner of war captured in battle, while 虜 is broader and can also describe being figuratively enslaved by love or emotion.
囚しゅう人じん sense 1
囚人 refers to a convicted criminal serving a prison sentence, whereas 虜 refers to someone captured by an enemy or figuratively overwhelmed by passion.

Written forms

虜とりこUsage53%
Standard kanji spelling; common in news and everyday use.
とりこUsage37%
Kana spelling is common when the nuance is figurative or emotional.
トリコUsage6%
擒とりこUsage4%
Rare kanji variant; not commonly used.
俘虜とりこ
Rare kanji compound; literary or historical.

Etymology

The kanji 虜 originally meant 'captive' or 'prisoner'. The reading とりこ is a native Japanese word. The figurative sense developed from the idea of being 'captured' by emotions.

Usage patterns

〜の虜とりこになるto become captivated by ~; to fall completely under the spell of ~

彼かの女じょはその音おん楽がくの虜とりこになった。

She became completely captivated by that music.

〈人ひと〉を虜とりこにするto captivate someone; to steal someone's heart

その笑え顔がおは多おおくの人ひとを虜とりこにした。

That smile captivated many people.

〈相あい手て〉の虜とりこになるto become a prisoner/captive of an enemy or opposing force

兵へい士したちは敵てきの虜とりこになった。

The soldiers became prisoners of the enemy.

Related words

捕ほ虜りょN1sense 1
捕虜 specifically means a prisoner of war captured in battle, while 虜 is broader and can also describe being figuratively enslaved by love or emotion.
囚しゅう人じん sense 1
囚人 refers to a convicted criminal serving a prison sentence, whereas 虜 refers to someone captured by an enemy or figuratively overwhelmed by passion.