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捕获 (bǔ huò) — to catch, to capture, to seize

Definition

捕获 (bǔ huò) is a formal/written verb for 'to capture, seize' — used for criminals, data, or imagery. Stronger and more official than everyday 抓, and broader than 捕捉 (which leans toward physical grasping) or 查获 (police seizures of contraband).

verb
to catchto captureto seize

Examples

  • 捕获。
    Jǐng fāng zhōng yú bǔ huò le nà ge zuì fàn.
    The police finally captured that criminal.
  • 捕获。
    Zhè kuǎn xiàng jī néng qīng xī bǔ huò yuǎn chù de fēng jǐng.
    This camera can clearly capture distant scenery.
  • 捕获。
    Tā zài wǎng shàng bǔ huò le dà liàng yǒu yòng de zī liào.
    He captured a large amount of useful information online.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

捕bǔcatch
获huòobtain

Both 捕 and 获 convey seizing or obtaining, so together they mean to catch or capture.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ捕bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

捕 uses 扌 (a hand, from 手) to show catching, and 甫 for the sound.

Open 捕 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獲; 获 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
蒦
蒦huò獲huò
Same sound today

The traditional form 獲 combines 犭 (dog) with 蒦, a sound part, to show catching animals with a dog. The simplified 获 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 获 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Crime & Police

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.