synonym Comparative
捕まえる
VS
つかむ
Differences Between "捕まえる" and "つかむ"
Option A
捕まえる
Meaning
to catch; to arrest; to capture; to seize
Reading
つかまえる (tsukamaeru)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
警察署の刑事たちは長期間の執念深い捜査の末に、全国を逃亡していた凶悪な指名手配犯をようやく_______。
After a long period of persistent investigation, the police detectives finally caught the heinous wanted criminal who was fleeing across the nation.
Option B
つかむ
Meaning
to grasp, to seize, to catch
Reading
つかむ (tsukamu)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
彼は私の腕を強くつかんだ。
He grabbed my arm tightly.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(to catch; to arrest; to capture; to seize)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 捕まえる: Refers to actively catching an animal, arresting a criminal, or seizing someone's hand/attention. Transitive verb. Opposing word: 捕まる. Often used as 犯人を捕まえる or タクシーを捕まえる. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To catch! "I will catch your small, trembling hands and keep them warm forever, Haruka-san!" ...っ! T-To catch my hands! B-Baka! Don't say such cool, reliable things! But... since you caught my hands, make sure you never let them go, even for a millisecond! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『つかまえる（捕まえる）よ！『ハルカ部長の小さくて少し震えている手をしっかり捕まえて、一生温めてあげます！』って…っ！私の手を捕まえる！バカ！/// そんなかっこいい王子様みたいなこと言うんじゃないの！…でも、捕まえたその不器用な手、1秒でも離したら怒るんだからね！』
- つかむ: Physically holding something (e.g., 手でつかむ) or metaphorically understanding/capturing something (e.g., チャンスをつかむ, 意味をつかむ).
- 捕まえる: Refers to actively catching an animal, arresting a criminal, or seizing someone's hand/attention. Transitive verb. Opposing word: 捕まる. Often used as 犯人を捕まえる or タクシーを捕まえる. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To catch! "I will catch your small, trembling hands and keep them warm forever, Haruka-san!" ...っ! T-To catch my hands! B-Baka! Don't say such cool, reliable things! But... since you caught my hands, make sure you never let them go, even for a millisecond! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『つかまえる（捕まえる）よ！『ハルカ部長の小さくて少し震えている手をしっかり捕まえて、一生温めてあげます！』って…っ！私の手を捕まえる！バカ！/// そんなかっこいい王子様みたいなこと言うんじゃないの！…でも、捕まえたその不器用な手、1秒でも離したら怒るんだからね！』
- つかむ: Physically holding something (e.g., 手でつかむ) or metaphorically understanding/capturing something (e.g., チャンスをつかむ, 意味をつかむ).
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