Translation guide
The English word "arrest" has two main meanings: the legal act of taking someone into custody, and the act of stopping or halting something. This guide covers both, with a focus on natural Japanese expressions.
To express the act of police or authorities taking someone into custody.
The standard legal term for arrest. Used for formal arrests by police.
To express stopping the progress or development of something, such as a disease, growth, or a trend.
Means 'to prevent' or 'to stop' something from happening. Often used for abstract things like plans, progress, or spread.
To express capturing someone's attention or interest.
Means 'to attract' or 'to draw'. Commonly used with 注意 (attention) or 興味 (interest).
逮捕 (taiho) is the formal legal term for arrest, used in official contexts. 捕まる (tsukamaru) is the casual, everyday word for being caught or arrested. Use 逮捕 in news reports or formal writing, and 捕まる in conversation.
彼は昨日逮捕された。
He was arrested yesterday. (formal)
昨日、スリが捕まった。
Yesterday, a pickpocket got caught. (casual)
逮捕 only means arrest in the legal sense. Do not use it for 'arresting' a disease or a trend. Use 阻止, 食い止める, or 抑制 instead.
警察は容疑者を逮捕した。
The police arrested the suspect.
彼は殺人容疑で逮捕された。
He was arrested on suspicion of murder.
The intransitive verb meaning 'to be caught' or 'to be arrested'. More casual and commonly used in everyday speech.
犯人はすぐに捕まった。
The criminal was caught right away.
スピード違反で捕まった。
I got caught for speeding.
A formal term often used in news reports, meaning 'to arrest' or 'to apprehend', but can also include non-arrest actions like questioning.
警察は暴力団員を検挙した。
The police arrested the gang member.
Means 'detention' or 'restraint'. It can refer to arrest but is broader, often used for holding someone in custody.
容疑者は警察に拘束された。
The suspect was detained by the police.
病気の進行を阻止する。
To arrest the progress of the disease.
テロ計画を阻止した。
They thwarted the terrorist plot.
Literally 'to stop in its tracks', used for stopping the spread or advance of something negative, like a fire, disease, or rumor.
火事の延焼を食い止める。
To arrest the spread of the fire.
感染拡大を食い止める対策。
Measures to arrest the spread of infection.
Means 'to suppress' or 'to control'. Used for restraining growth, inflation, or emotions.
インフレを抑制する政策。
Policies to arrest inflation.
A general verb meaning 'to stop'. Can be used in some contexts for 'arrest' but is less specific.
出血を止める。
To arrest the bleeding.
その絵は私の注意を引いた。
The painting arrested my attention.
Means 'to capture' or 'to seize'. Can be used for attention but is more literary.
彼の演説は聴衆の心を捉えた。
His speech arrested the hearts of the audience.