Japanese Conversation · Level 131
60 words
Japanese word
捕虜
Pronunciation
Romajihoryo
Meaning
- nounprisoner of war
Example
多くの捕虜が解放されました。ō ku no ho ryo ga kai hō sa re ma shi ta
Many prisoners of war were released.
More examples
国際法では、捕虜を人道的に扱うことが求められています。koku sai hō de wa ho ryo o jin dō teki ni atsuka u ko to ga moto me ra re te i ma su
International law requires prisoners of war to be treated humanely.
Core concept
Centers on a person captured by an opposing side during armed conflict and kept under its control.
Common phrases
捕虜になるho ryo ni na ru
become a prisoner of war
捕虜を解放するho ryo o kai hō su ru
release prisoners of war
捕虜を尋問するho ryo o jin mon su ru
interrogate prisoners of war
Similar words
虜toriko: A captured person kept under another party's control, whether or not the capture occurs during war.
Definition in Japanese
戦争や武力紛争で敵側に捕らえられ、拘束されている者。sen sō ya bu ryoku fun sō de teki gawa ni to ra e ra re kō soku sa re te i ru mono
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 捕虜 (horyo) combines 捕 (ho, "capture") and 虜 (ryo, "captive"), forming the sense of a captive taken in war.
Usage tips
- In English, POW is a common abbreviation for prisoner of war, while captive also covers people held for reasons unrelated to war.
Other meanings
- captivenoun