俘 (fú) - to capture & to take prisoner

俘Tone 2

fú ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

俘 · fú

to capture;

to take prisoner;

captive;

prisoner of war

to captureto take prisonercaptive

Usage highlights

captureprisoner of warbe capturedcaptivetake prisonerenemy captive

Synonyms

  • 虏— to capture; captive (similar meaning, often used in classical texts)
  • 擒— to capture; to catch (emphasizes the act of seizing)

Antonyms

  • 释— to release; to set free
  • 放— to let go; to release

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The enemy soldiers were captured (被俘).
  • He became a prisoner of war (成为战俘).
  • They captured many enemy troops (俘获 many enemy troops).
  • The captives were treated humanely (俘虏 were treated humanely).

Collocations

  • capture(俘获)
  • prisoner of war(战俘)
  • be captured(被俘)
  • captive(俘虏)
  • take prisoner(俘囚)
  • enemy captive(敌俘)

Idioms

  • To capture alive and take as prisoner(生擒活俘)
  • Ten thousand captives(万俘)
  • Captives and booty(俘馘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character appears in ancient military texts describing the spoils of war, including captured enemies and plunder.
  • In traditional Chinese military reporting, the number of '俘' (captives) was often listed alongside '斩' (decapitated) and '降' (surrendered) to quantify victory.
  • The term carries a connotation of defeat and subjugation, reflecting the hierarchical nature of historical Chinese interstate relations.

FAQ