抱擁

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 抱擁 is read as ほうよう and is a formal noun, also used with する, for wrapping one's arms around another person in an embrace.
• Basic usage: Use 抱擁で迎える for an embrace as the manner of welcome and 抱擁を交わす for a mutual embrace.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Expressing mutual action
  • In 抱擁を交わす, 交わす adds the sense that two people exchange the action.
• Register
  • It is more formal and literary than ハグ, making it well suited to narration or ceremonial scenes.