Japanese symbol for “seize”
捉える
とらえる
Romaji: toraeru
to catch; to capture; to seize; to arrest
In Japanese, seize is 捉える, read とらえる (toraeru).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v1, vt to catch; to capture; to seize; to arrest; to grab; to catch hold of
- v1, vt to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to capture (e.g. features)
- v1, vt to captivate; to move (one's heart)
Written forms: 捉える、捕らえる、捕える. Readings: とらえる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “seize”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 掴む | つかむ tsukamu | to seize; to catch; to grasp |
| 捕まえる | つかまえる tsukamaeru | to catch; to capture; to arrest |
| 握る | にぎる nigiru | to seize (power); to hold (the reins); to dominate |
| 乗っ取る | のっとる nottoru | to take possession of (forcibly); to take over (a company, account, etc.); to capture (a castle, enemy position, etc.) |
| 差し押さえる | さしおさえる sashiosaeru | to seize; to impound; to garnish |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 捕捉 | ほそく hosoku | capture; seizure; prehension |
| 把捉 | はそく hasoku | grasping (a meaning) |
| 猿猴捉月 | えんこうそくげつ enkousokugetsu | trying to reach above one's station and failing; trying to accomplish something beyond one's abilities and failing; monkey catching (a reflection of) the moon (in the water) |
| 捕捉剤 | ほそくざい hosokuzai | scavenger |
| 捉え方 | とらえかた toraekata | interpretation; perception; understanding |
See also: Chinese symbol for “seize”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.