つかまる・捕まる・掴まる・捉まるtsukamaru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
捕まる捕まる is the most common kanji-kana spelling of this word. Nevertheless, the word is usually written in kana alone, so learners may often encounter that spelling instead.
掴まる掴まる is a less common kanji-kana variant of 捕まる. Use 捕まる instead when choosing a default spelling.
捉まる捉まる is a rarely used kanji-kana variant of 捕まる. You may encounter it, but it is not a usual choice for learners’ writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be caught; to be arrestedusu. 捕まる
- godan verb, intransitive verbto hold on to; to graspusu. 掴まる
- godan verb, intransitive verbto find (e.g. proof); to get (e.g. a taxi)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be detained by
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | つかまる |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | つかまります |
| Negative (nai) | つかまらない |
| polite (masen) | つかまりません |
| classical zu / nu | つかまらず・つかまらぬ |
| Past (ta) | つかまった |
| polite (mashita) | つかまりました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | つかまらなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | つかまりませんでした |
| Te form | つかまって |
| Potential | つかまれる |
| Passive | つかまられる |
| Causative | つかまらせる |
| Causative passive | つかまらせられる・つかまらされる |
| Conditional (ba) | つかまれば |
| tara | つかまったら |
| Volitional | つかまろう |
| polite (mashou) | つかまりましょう |
| Imperative | つかまれ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
犯人が捕まる
捕まる emphasizes the event or resulting state centered on the 犯人, whereas 捕まえる foregrounds the agent acting on the 犯人.
手すりに掴まる
捕まる emphasizes the event or resulting state, whereas 掴む foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 手すりに掴まる and 手すりを掴む.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
See also
