What is the difference between "取る" and "捕る"?

"取る" means "to take; to pick up; to get" (N4), whereas "捕る" represents "to catch (fish, animals), to capture, to harvest (crops)" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "とる (toru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

とる (toru)

N4 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

とる (toru)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "とる (toru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

取る (Level: N4): Translates to "to take; to pick up; to get" and is used when 非常に多くの意味を持つ動詞です。物をつかむ、手に入れる、時間や休みを取るなど、文脈によって使い分けられます。.
捕る (Level: N3): Maps to "to catch (fish, animals), to capture, to harvest (crops)" and carries the nuance of Specifically used for catching living things.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "取る"

本棚から本を取ってください。

Please take a book from the bookshelf.

Bilingual Context for "捕る"

漁師は毎日魚を捕る。

Fishermen catch fish every day.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "本棚から本を取ってください。" (Meaning: "Please take a book from the bookshelf.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "取る" is used for "to take; to pick up; to get" in the context: "Please take a book from the bookshelf.".