捉える・捕らえる・捕える|とらえるtoraeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
捉える捉える（とらえる） is the most common of these written forms. It appears most often among these variants and uses a kanji-and-kana spelling.
捕らえる捕らえる（とらえる） is less common than 捉える（とらえる） but more common than 捕える（とらえる）. It likewise uses a kanji-and-kana spelling.
捕える捕える（とらえる） is the least common of these written forms, although it is the recommended default for beginners. It uses a kanji-and-kana spelling.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto catch; to capture; to seize; to arrest; to grab; to catch hold of
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to capture (e.g. features)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto captivate; to move (one's heart)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 捉える（とらえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 捉えます（とらえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 捉えない（とらえない） |
| polite (masen) | 捉えません（とらえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 捉えず・捉えぬ（とらえず・とらえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 捉えた（とらえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 捉えました（とらえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 捉えなかった（とらえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 捉えませんでした（とらえませんでした） |
| Te form | 捉えて（とらえて） |
| Potential | 捉えられる（とらえられる） |
| Passive | 捉えられる（とらえられる） |
| Causative | 捉えさせる（とらえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 捉えさせられる（とらえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 捉えれば（とらえれば） |
| tara | 捉えたら（とらえたら） |
| Volitional | 捉えよう（とらえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 捉えましょう（とらえましょう） |
| Imperative | 捉えろ（とらえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
犯人を捕らえる
囚われる focuses on the event or resulting state, while 捉える foregrounds the agent acting on something: compare 犯人が捕らわれる with 犯人を捕らえる.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym捕まえるつかまえるNeutralThe everyday word for catching a person or animal trying to get away, and for stopping a car or seizing a chance; 「捉える」 also covers grasping features or meaning.
- Synonym捕獲ほかくNeutralCapturing wild animals or fish, as in 「クジラの捕獲」; 「捉える」 also covers abstract grasping.
- Synonym捕るとるNeutralMostly for catching animals, fish or balls, as in 「魚を捕る」. 「捉える」 also covers seizing opportunities and grasping meaning.
- Synonym検挙けんきょFormalFormal police term: investigating and rounding up or exposing suspects, who are not necessarily arrested. 「捉える」 is broader.
- SynonymつかむNeutralGrabbing with the hands; also mastering the knack or seizing an opportunity. 「捉える」 is more about capturing features and understanding.
- Synonymひっ捕らえるひっとらえるCasualColloquial and emphatic: grabbing hold of a criminal in one go. 「捉える」 is the more neutral choice.
- Synonymとっ捕まえるとっつかまえるCasualColloquial with a rough edge: snatching someone or something at once. In everyday speech 「捕まえる」 is the normal word.
- Synonym召し捕るめしとるWrittenArchaic, period-drama language for officials arresting a criminal; modern speech uses 「逮捕する」.
- Synonym捕捉ほそくWrittenWritten style: catching a target, signal or meaning, as in 「レーダーで捕捉」. 「捉える」 is the more general word.
- Synonym捕縛ほばくWrittenWritten style: arresting someone and tying them up. In modern speech 「逮捕」 is the usual word.
- Synonymふん捕まえるふんづかまえるCasualColloquial and emphatic: grabbing hold of someone with force. Everyday speech uses 「捕まえる」.
- Synonym採捕さいほWrittenWritten, technical language of fisheries and regulations: gathering or catching plants and animals. In daily speech 「捕る」 is used.
- Synonym獲るとるNeutralFor hunting game, and for winning prizes or victories. 「捉える」 stresses catching and grasping.
- Related取り押さえるとりおさえるNeutralPinning a person or animal down and subduing them so they cannot escape or resist. 「捉える」 focuses on catching and grasping.
- Related絡め取るからめとるNeutralCatching someone and tying them up; figuratively, trapping a person in trouble. 「捉える」 is more neutral.
- Related掴み取るつかみとるNeutralSeizing something through effort, as in 「勝利を掴み取る」. 「捉える」 leans towards grasping and understanding.
- Antonym逃すのがすNeutralThe opposite of 「捉える」 in whether something is caught: missing it or letting it get away.
- Antonym放すはなすNeutralThe opposite of 「捉える」 in whether something is held: letting go or setting free.
Use 「捉える」 for capturing a target and for grasping features or meaning. For catching someone or something trying to get away, 「捕まえる」 is the everyday word; 「捕る」 is for animals and fish, and 「検挙」 is the police term for rounding up suspects. 「ひっ捕らえる」「とっ捕まえる」「ふん捕まえる」 are colloquial; 「捕捉」「捕縛」「採捕」「召し捕る」 are written, and 「捕獲」 is the neutral word for capturing animals. 「取り押さえる」「絡め取る」「掴み取る」「掴む」 add nuances of subduing, binding or forceful seizing. Antonyms: 「逃す」 lets something escape, 「放す」 lets it go.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
