捉 (zhuō) - To catch & to capture

捉Tone 1

zhuō ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

志

捉 · zhuō

To catch;

to capture;

to seize;

to grasp;

to hold.

To catchto captureto seize

Usage highlights

Catch a thiefCatch a turtle in a jarCapture and releaseGrasp a knifeCatch a demonArrest and punish

Synonyms

  • 抓— To grab; to scratch
  • 捕— To catch; to arrest
  • 拿— To take; to hold

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The police caught the thief (捉贼).
  • Children like to catch fireflies (捉萤火虫).
  • He grasped the pen and began to write (捉笔).
  • It's hard to pin down his meaning (捉摸不定).

Collocations

  • Catch a thief(捉贼)
  • Catch a turtle in a jar(瓮中捉鳖)
  • Capture and release(捉放)
  • Grasp a knife(捉刀)
  • Catch a demon(捉妖)
  • Arrest and punish(捉拿)

Idioms

  • As easy as catching a turtle in a jar(瓮中捉鳖)
  • Catch the moon in the water(水中捉月)
  • Grasp the knife for another(捉刀代笔)
  • Hard to catch shadows and grasp the wind(捕风捉影)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 捉 appears in many idioms related to capturing or grasping, reflecting practical actions.
  • In literary context, 捉刀 means to write on someone else's behalf, originating from a story about Cao Cao.
  • The radical 扌(hand) emphasizes the physical action of seizing or holding.

FAQ