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

"撮る" means "to take (a photo/video)" (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.

撮る (Level: N4): Translates to "to take (a photo/video)" and is used when Used specifically for capturing images or video.
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 "撮る"

公園で友達と写真を撮りました。

I took pictures with my friends in the park.

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: "公園で友達と写真を撮りました。" (Meaning: "I took pictures with my friends in the park.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "撮る" is used for "to take (a photo/video)" in the context: "I took pictures with my friends in the park.".