How to say "seize" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- godan verb, transitive verbCovers physically seizing or grasping something with the hand, or figuratively grabbing an opportunity. The most everyday choice when seize means to grip or take hold of.だれかが私の腕をつかんだ。↗Somebody caught me by the arm.
- 捉えるとらえるichidan verb, transitive verbUsed for catching or capturing something, such as an fleeing person or target, and also for grasping things abstractly. It can mean seize in the sense of capturing, but catch and capture are its core senses.
- 差し押さえるさしおさえるichidan verb, transitive verbThe word for seizing property in a legal sense, such as when authorities impound assets or attach goods for unpaid debts. Choose this whenever seize refers to official or judicial confiscation.
- godan verb, transitive verbMeans to plunder or seize by force, as in taking goods during war or pillaging. For most senses of seize this is not the word you want; it really conveys violent looting.
- 捕まえるつかまえるichidan verb, transitive verbPrimarily means to catch or capture, as in catching an animal or a fleeing suspect, and can also mean arrest. Seize is only a secondary sense; reach for it when seize is close to catching.
For physical seizing or gripping use 「つかむ」; for catching or capturing use 「捕まえる」 or 「捉える」; for legal seizure of property use 「差し押さえる」; for seizing by force as plunder use 「ぶんどる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- つかむto seize
- 捉えるとらえるto catch
- 差し押さえるさしおさえるto seize
- ぶんどるto plunder
- 捕まえるつかまえるto catch
- 乗っ取るのっとるto take possession of (forcibly)
- 取り押さえるとりおさえるto seize
- ひっ捕まえるひっつかまえるto seize
- ひっ捕らえるひっとらえるto arrest
- 手中にするしゅちゅうにするto get hold of
- 縄を掛けるなわをかけるto bind (a criminal) with rope
- 握るにぎるto seize (power)
- 押さえるおさえるto get a hold of
- 追い落とすおいおとすto capture (a castle)
- 挙げるあげるto arrest (a criminal)
- 抜くぬくto seize
See also
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