The Kanji ‘捕’ (ホ): Origins, Meaning, and Usage

Japanese Kanji

The kanji (かんじ, Chinese characters) that have been passed down since ancient times are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and language. The commonly used kanji “捕” (ほ, ho) is one of them and is an important character frequently used in daily life. In this article, we will delve into the origins, meanings, usages, and even idioms and proverbs involving “捕” (ほ, ho). We hope this will help readers understand and use “捕” (ほ, ho) more appropriately in their daily communication.

Origins of 捕 (ほ, ho)

The kanji “捕” (ほ, ho) is composed of the radical “手” (て, te), meaning hand, and “甫” (ほ, ho), indicating movement or action. In ancient China, it was used to represent the action of grabbing or capturing something with one’s hand. Over time, this character came to mean capturing or seizing and was introduced to Japan.

Meanings and Usages of 捕 (ほ, ho)

The kanji “捕” (ほ, ho) means “to capture,” “to seize,” or “to arrest.” These meanings are primarily related to the act of physically grabbing something or legally apprehending someone. It is often used in contexts such as capturing animals or arresting criminals, indicating a specific target.

Readings, Stroke Count, and Radical of 捕 (ほ, ho)

Here is an explanation of the readings and structure of the commonly used kanji “捕” (ほ, ho).

  • Readings: In On-yomi (おんよみ, Chinese reading), it is “ホ” (ほ, ho). In Kun-yomi (くんよみ, Japanese reading), it is “とら.える” (とらえる, toraeru), “とら.われる” (とらわれる, torawareru), “と.らえる” (とらえる, toraeru), and “と.らわれる” (とらわれる, torawareru).
  • Stroke Count: “捕” (ほ, ho) has a total of 10 strokes.
  • Radical: The radical of “捕” (ほ, ho) is “手” (てへん, tehen), which means hand.

Idioms, Proverbs, and Phrases Using 捕 (ほ, ho)

Here are some idioms, proverbs, and phrases that include “捕” (ほ, ho).

  • 捕虜 (ほりょ, horyo): A person captured by the enemy during a war.
  • 捕鯨 (ほげい, hoge): The act or industry of capturing whales.
  • 捕縛 (ほばく, hobaku): The act of capturing and binding someone tightly.
  • 捕手 (ほしゅ, hoshu): The baseball player who catches pitches from the pitcher.
  • 捕食 (ほしょく, hoshoku): When an animal captures and eats another organism.

These idioms and phrases are used in various contexts while keeping the basic meaning of “捕” (ほ, ho) in mind.

Summary of 捕 (ほ, ho)

The kanji “捕” (ほ, ho) is intuitive in its form and meaning, yet it allows for rich expression through various idioms and usages. In Japanese, “捕” (ほ, ho) is a character frequently used in legal contexts and daily life. Deepening your understanding of “捕” (ほ, ho) will lead to more accurate use of the language. We hope this article helps deepen your understanding of expressions involving “捕” (ほ, ho).

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