Translation guide
The English phrase 'be caught' can refer to physical capture, being discovered doing something wrong, getting trapped in a situation, or being snagged on something. Japanese uses different verbs and constructions depending on the nuance.
To be seized, apprehended, or taken into custody by someone (police, enemy, etc.).
The most common and general word for being caught or arrested. Intransitive verb.
犯人はすぐに捕まった。
The criminal was caught immediately.
警察に捕まる。
To be caught by the police.
Passive form of 捕らえる (to capture). Slightly more formal or literary than 捕まる.
敵に捕らえられた。
He was captured by the enemy.
Specifically means 'to be arrested' in a legal sense. Used for police arrests.
彼は窃盗の容疑で逮捕された。
He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
To be discovered or seen while doing something secret, embarrassing, or forbidden.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be found' or 'to be discovered'. Often used when someone is caught doing something.
嘘をついているのが見つかった。
I was caught lying.
タバコを吸っているところを見つかった。
I was caught smoking.
Casual verb meaning 'to be found out' or 'to be exposed'. Often used for secrets or lies.
Literally 'to have the scene secured', meaning to be caught red-handed.
万引きしている現場を押さえられた。
I was caught shoplifting red-handed.
To be unable to escape from a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Passive of 巻き込む (to involve). Means to be caught up in or embroiled in something, often trouble or an accident.
交通事故に巻き込まれた。
I was caught up in a traffic accident.
争いに巻き込まれる。
To be caught in a dispute.
Means to fall into a trap, get stuck, or be addicted. Can be used for being caught in a scam or bad situation.
詐欺にはまった。
I got caught in a scam.
Literally 'become unable to escape'. Used for being caught in a vicious cycle or addiction.
借金地獄から抜け出せなくなった。
I got caught in a spiral of debt.
To be physically caught on an object, like clothing on a nail.
Intransitive verb meaning to be caught, snagged, or hooked on something. Also used figuratively for being caught by a trick or rule.
服が釘に引っかかった。
My clothes got caught on a nail.
網に引っかかる。
To be caught in a net.
Intransitive verb meaning to be caught between two things, stuck or jammed.
To be unexpectedly exposed to rain, storm, etc.
Passive form meaning 'to be rained on'. The most natural way to say 'be caught in the rain'.
帰り道で雨に降られた。
I was caught in the rain on my way home.
Formal verb meaning 'to encounter'. Used with weather phenomena like storms.
登山中に吹雪に遭遇した。
We were caught in a blizzard while climbing.
捕まる (tsukamaru) is for physical capture or arrest. 見つかる (mitsukaru) is for being discovered doing something, often with ところを. バレる (bareru) is casual and implies a secret or wrongdoing is exposed.
警察に捕まった。
I was caught by the police.
カンニングしているところを見つかった。
I was caught cheating on the exam.
嘘がバレた。
My lie was found out.
The English loanword キャッチ (kyatchi) is not used for 'be caught' in the sense of capture or discovery. It is mainly used for catching a ball or understanding something. Use the Japanese verbs above instead.
My affair was found out. / I got caught cheating.
嘘がバレた。
My lie was exposed.
罠にはまる。
To be caught in a trap.
指がドアに挟まった。
My finger got caught in the door.