capture

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 捕 has 10 strokes and the on-reading ほ. 捕まえる (つかまえる) and 捕まる (つかまる) distinguish catching from being caught.
• Basic usage: 捕まえる is transitive, as when catching an insect or suspect; 捕まる is intransitive and describes an animal or person being caught.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The object caught and the subject being caught
  • 虫を網で捕まえた means caught an insect with a net. 容疑者を捕まえた means police caught a suspect, with the object caught before を.
  • 犬が夕方になって無事に捕まった means the dog was safely caught when evening came. In 警察に捕まった, に identifies the police as those who caught the person.