Translation and Meaning of: 捕獲 - hokaku

The Japanese word 「捕獲」 (hokaku) is composed of the kanji 「捕」 and 「獲」。The first kanji, 「捕」, has the meaning of "to capture" or "to catch". It is often used in contexts involving the seizure of something, whether physical or conceptual. The second kanji, 「獲」, refers to "to obtain" or "to acquire", and also appears in words related to hunting or capturing. Therefore, the combination of these kanji results in the idea of "capturing or catching something", commonly used in contexts of capturing animals or acquiring something through effort.

In the etymology of these kanji, 「捕」 is formed by the radicals "hand" (扌, symbolizing action) and "sun" (甫, symbolizing breadth), together evoking the action of restraining or containing something; while 「獲」 has the radical for "animal" (犭), suggesting a connection to obtaining or capturing creatures. The integration of these pictographic elements in Japanese calligraphy helps to convey the complex nuances of the actions of capturing and acquiring, whether in a natural context, such as hunting, or in metaphorical senses, such as absorbing knowledge.

The expression 「捕獲」 is frequently used in areas such as biology, referring to the capture of species for study or conservation. It also appears in contexts of public safety and environmental protection, where the capture — whether of animals, people, or objects — is relevant. In addition to the main word, the concept of capture can also be symbolized in different expressions and compositions, being a central term in various discussions about capture and preservation of nature.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 捕捉 (hoshaku) - Capture or gathering, usually in a context of capturing something in motion.
• 捕獲する (hokaku suru) - Capture, collect, or seize something, frequently used in contexts of capturing animals or objects.
• 捕らえる (toraeru) - Capture or hold, emphasizing the action of reaching or holding something.
• 捕まえる (tsukamaeru) - Grab or catch, often referring to the action of holding something in motion.
• 捕らわれる (torawareru) - Being captured or imprisoned, focusing on the state of being under capture.
• 捕獲物 (hokakubutsu) - Item or organism captured, used to describe what was captured.
• 捕獲対象 (hokaku taishō) - Target of capture, referring to what is intended to be captured.
• 捕獲量 (hokaku-ryō) - Captured quantity, the amount of something that has been collected or captured.
• 捕獲技術 (hokaku gijutsu) - Capture technique, methods or skills used to capture something.