捕

bǔ

扌 + 甫

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

bǔ (verb) to catch; to seize; to capture

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 甫 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 甫

About

捕 is a phono-semantic compound verb meaning to catch, capture, or arrest. The left component 扌 (hand radical) signals an action performed with the hands, while 甫 on the right provides the sound. Historically, 甫 meant "beginning" or "large man", but those meanings are not active here. The character refers to the physical exertion of seizing a moving target, apprehending a criminal, or trapping an animal. It applies to literal restraint and extends to the investigative work of tracking down suspects for arrest.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

捕鱼是他的工作。

Bǔ yú shì tā de gōngzuò.

Fishing is his job.

警察捕捉到了罪犯。

Jǐngchá bǔzhuō dàole zuìfàn.

The police caught the criminal.

渔民们正在海上捕鱼。

Yúmínmen zhèngzài hǎishàng bǔ yú.

The fishermen are fishing at sea.

这张网用来捕捉昆虫。

Zhè zhāng wǎng yòng lái bǔzhuō kūnchóng.

This net is used to catch insects.

警方成功逮捕了走私团伙。

Jǐngfāng chénggōng dàibǔle zǒusī tuánhuǒ.

The police successfully arrested the smuggling gang.

非法捕捞严重破坏了海洋生态。

Fēifǎ bǔlāo yánzhòng pòhuàile hǎiyáng shēngtài.

Illegal fishing has severely damaged the marine ecosystem.

捕风捉影的谣言不要轻易相信。

Bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng de yáoyán bùyào qīngyì xiāngxìn.

Don't easily believe rumors that are based on hearsay.

经过周密部署，猎物终于落入了陷阱。

Jīngguò zhōumì bùshǔ, lièwù zhōngyú luòrùle xiànjǐng.

After careful planning, the prey finally fell into the trap.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 扌

Component: 甫

捕