捕らえる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 捕らえる(とらえる) is a transitive verb for catching a person or object, also used for capturing a fleeting moment.
• Basic usage: It can describe catching someone, as in 容疑者を捕らえた, or a photographer capturing momentary light.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 捕らえる and 捕らわれる
  • 捕らえる describes the capturing side, while 捕らわれる(とらわれる) describes being captured. The subjects have different roles in 警察が捕らえる and 容疑者が捕らわれる.
• What can be captured
  • With light, 捕らえる means recording a fleeting moment, for example in a photograph. This example extends capture beyond physically catching a person.