捕捉 (bǔ zhuō) — to catch, to seize, to capture | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

捕捉 (bǔzhuō) is a more formal 'to catch / seize' that often takes abstract or sensory targets (an opportunity, a moment on camera). 抓 is the everyday physical grab, while 捕 stresses law-enforcement or animal-capture contexts.

verb

to catchto seizeto capture

Examples

捕捉。
Jǐng chá chéng gōng bǔ zhuō le nà ge zuì fàn.
The police successfully caught that criminal.
捕捉。
Nǐ yào xué huì bǔ zhuō měi yí gè jī huì.
You need to learn to seize every opportunity.
捕捉。
Xiàng jī bǔ zhuō zhù le nà ge jīng cǎi de shùn jiān.
The camera captured that wonderful moment.

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 and 捉 both mean catch; the pair gives a stronger sense of seizing.

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.

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.

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

扌足捉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

足

足zú捉zhuō

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

捉 pairs 扌, the hand form of 手, with 足, which gives the character its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6

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