How to say "capture" in Japanese

• 攻略こうりゃくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbFor the capture of enemy territory or a stronghold — taking a position by storm, conquest in a military sense. It is not used for catching people or animals.
• 捉えるとらえるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to catch, capture or seize something; it often carries a wider, more general feel than the plain catching verb, and it also serves figuratively for grasping something abstract.
  ついに反逆者はんぎゃくしゃは捕とらえられ、拘置所こうちしょに入いれられた。↗

  The rebel was ultimately captured and confined to jail.
• 捕まえるつかまえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbUse this verb when someone physically catches and holds a person or animal on the loose — a runaway pet, a fleeing suspect; it also covers the police catching someone.
  警察けいさつが容疑者ようぎしゃを捕つかまえた。↗

  The policeman got the suspect.
• 捕獲ほかくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA noun for the act of capturing or seizing something, typically in formal or technical contexts such as the capture of a wild animal or of a target; it names the act itself.
  私わたしたちは、昨日きのう、森もりに行いき、２頭とうの鹿しかを捕獲ほかくした。↗

  We went hunting in the forest and caught two deer yesterday.
• 逮捕たいほJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbArrest: the authorities taking a suspect into custody. When 'capture' refers to apprehending a suspect, this is the word; it does not cover catching animals or capturing territory.
  その男性だんせいはスパイとして逮捕たいほされた。↗

  The man was arrested as a spy.

Use 攻略 for capturing enemy territory or strongholds, 「捕まえる」 and 「捉える」 as verbs for catching or seizing, 捕獲 as the noun for capture or seizure, and 逮捕 only for legal arrest.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 攻略こうりゃくcapture (of enemy territory)
• 捉えるとらえるto catch
• 捕まえるつかまえるto catch
• 捕獲ほかくcapture
• 逮捕たいほarrest
• 捕り物とりものcapture (of a suspect, criminal, etc.)
• 略取りゃくしゅcapture
• ぶんどるto plunder
• 捕るとるto catch (a wild animal, fish, insect, baseball, etc.)
• 乗っ取るのっとるto take possession of (forcibly)
• キャプチャーcapture (of audio-visual data)
• 乗り取るのりとるto capture
• 捕捉ほそくcapture
• 鹵獲ろかくcapture (of enemy weapons, supplies, etc.)
• 拿捕だほcapture (esp. of a foreign vessel)
• キャプcapture (of audio-visual data)
• 攻め落とすせめおとすto take by storm (e.g. a castle)
• 捕縛ほばくarrest
• 取り押さえるとりおさえるto seize
• ひっ捕らえるひっとらえるto arrest
• 攻め取るせめとるto take by storm (e.g. a castle)
• 獲るとるto catch (a wild animal or fish)
• 身柄確保みがらかくほapprehension (of a crime suspect)
• 絡め取るからめとるto catch and tie up
• 取り込むとりこむto capture (e.g. image)
• 占領せんりょうmilitary occupation
• 略すりゃくすto take
• 追い落とすおいおとすto capture (a castle)
• つかむto obtain
• 収めるおさめるto include (in an anthology, catalogue, etc.)
• 陥れるおとしいれるto capture (a castle, fortress, etc.)
• 略するりゃくするto take
• 挙げるあげるto arrest (a criminal)
• 抜くぬくto seize
• 御用ごようarrest