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捕る (とる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

捕とる

と

る

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

Used for catching wild animals, fish, insects, and in baseball for catching a ball. Implies actively seizing or trapping.

川かわで魚さかなを捕とるのが趣しゅ味みです。
My hobby is catching fish in the river.
外がい野や手しゅがフライを捕とった

。

The outfielder caught the fly ball.

Written forms

捕とる
Standard kanji for catching or capturing animals, fish, insects, and in baseball.
とるUsage100%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji is broad or not important.

Kanji

捕catch, capture

Similar words

取とる
取る is the general verb for taking, picking up, or obtaining something. 捕る is specifically for catching or capturing living things or in sports contexts.
捕つかまえる
捕まえる also means to catch or arrest, but often implies physically grabbing and holding, and is more common for apprehending people.

Etymology

The kanji 捕 is composed of 扌 (hand) and 甫 (phonetic, also suggesting spreading), conveying the idea of seizing with the hand. The reading とる is native Japanese.