擒

qín

扌 + 禽

Definitions

qín (verb) to capture; to seize; to arrest

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 禽 represents the sound. Originally written as 禽, which is a pictograph of a net with a handle used for hunting.

About

擒 (qín) is a phonosemantic compound: the hand radical 扌 (shǒu) signals a manual action, while 禽 (qín) provides the pronunciation. Originally, the character was written as 禽, a pictograph of a net with a handle used for hunting; over time, 禽 shifted to mean birds or beasts. The addition of 扌 clarified the meaning of catching by hand, so 擒 now means to capture, seize, or arrest, usually implying resistance or the use of force. It commonly appears in military, martial arts, and law enforcement terminology describing the apprehension of criminals, combatants, or fugitives.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

警察擒获了小偷。

Jǐngchá qínhuò le xiǎotōu.

The police captured the thief.

保安合力擒住了小偷。

Bǎo'ān hé lì qínzhù le xiǎotōu.

The security guards worked together to catch the thief.

猎人擒住了一头野猪。

Lièrén qínzhù le yī tóu yězhū.

The hunter caught a wild boar.

他用擒拿术制服了疑犯。

Tā yòng qínná shù zhìfú le yífàn.

He subdued the suspect using martial arts techniques.

经过一番追逐，疑犯被擒。

Jīngguò yī fān zhuīzhú, yífàn bèi qín.

After a chase, the suspect was apprehended.

侦探通过擒获主谋破了案。

Zhēntàn tōngguò qínhuò zhǔmóu pò le àn.

The detective solved the case by capturing the mastermind.

警方设下圈套擒获了逃犯。

Jǐngfāng shè xià quāntào qínhuò le táofàn.

The police set a trap and captured the fugitive.

趁着夜色，特种部队成功擒获了敌方特工。

Chènzhe yèsè, tèzhǒng bùduì chénggōng qínhuò le dífāng tègōng.

Under the cover of night, the special forces successfully captured the enemy agent.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 禽

擒