抓捕 (zhuā bǔ) — to arrest, to capture | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to arrest / apprehend', used for police and law-enforcement actions on suspects or criminals. Stronger and more official than the everyday 抓.

verb

to arrestto capture

Examples

抓捕。
Jǐng fāng lián yè zhuā bǔ le duō míng xián yí rén.
The police arrested several suspects overnight.
抓捕。
Zhè cì zhuā bǔ xíng dòng fēi cháng chéng gōng.
This arrest operation was very successful.
抓捕。
Tā men jì huà zài biān jìng fù jìn shí shī zhuā bǔ.
They plan to carry out the capture near the border.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

抓 and 捕 both describe seizing or catching.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

爪

爪zhuǎ抓zhuā

Same sound today

抓 is built from 手 (hand) and 爪. The hand part points to actions like grab, catch, or scratch, while 爪 gives the sound.

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

扌甫捕

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.

Appears in

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