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Japanese to English Dictionary
つかまえる
tsukamaeru
Description
「捕まえる」は、にげるものや動いているものを手でしっかり持つ、という意味です。
"つかまえる" means to firmly hold something that is escaping or moving with your hand.
けいさつが犯人を捕まえる時や、電話で人を捕まえる時にも使います。
It is also used when the police catch a criminal or when you catch someone on the phone.
Meanings
捕まえるtsukamaeru
to catch, to grab, to seize (a moving thing)
公園で虫を捕まえた。
I caught insects in the park.
捕まえるtsukamaeru
to catch or apprehend (a criminal)
けいさつが犯人を捕まえた。
The police caught the criminal.
捕まえるtsukamaeru
to get hold of (a taxi or a person)
やっとタクシーを捕まえた。
I finally caught a taxi.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
from 掴む (tsukamu, to grip), formed as a transitive verb meaning to hold something firmly.
- Nuance
捕まえる is transitive (you catch it); 捕まる is intransitive (it gets caught).
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