Japanese Conversation · Level 69
75 words
Japanese word
捕まえる
Pronunciation
Romajitsukamaeru
Meaning
- verbcatch
Example
駅でタクシーを捕まえます。eki de ta ku shī o tsuka ma e ma su
I catch a taxi at the station.
More examples
公園で逃げた犬を捕まえました。kō en de ni ge ta inu o tsuka ma e ma shi ta
I caught the dog that ran away in the park.
Core concept
Focuses on stopping or securing something that is moving away, whether it is a person, an object, or a means of transport.
Common phrases
タクシーを捕まえるta ku shī o tsuka ma e ru
catch a taxi
犯人を捕まえるhan nin o tsuka ma e ru
catch a criminal
虫を捕まえるmushi o tsuka ma e ru
catch a bug
Similar words
捕らえるtoraeru: To seize and hold a person, animal, or moving thing, often in formal language.
Definition in Japanese
人や物の動きをとらえ、逃げたり離れたりできない状態にする。hito ya mono no ugo ki o to ra e ni ge ta ri hana re ta ri de ki na i jō tai ni su ru
Word origin
捕まえる (tsukamaeru, "to catch") is a native Japanese transitive verb formed from 捕まる (tsukamaru, "to be caught or held") with an ending that expresses causing something to enter that state.
Usage tips
- In everyday English, catch can mean successfully getting transport, while arrest and capture are narrower words for taking a person into custody or securing an opponent.