捕虜

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 捕虜(ほりょ) refers to someone captured by an enemy in fighting or a similar conflict.
• Basic usage: It is used for situations such as a soldier becoming a prisoner after battle or captives planning an escape.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Captives and convicted prisoners
  • 捕虜 does not by itself mean someone who committed a crime. Distinguish it from 囚人, a prisoner serving a criminal sentence.
• Singular and plural
  • Depending on context, 捕虜 can refer to one or more captives. 捕虜たち makes the group explicit.