捕まる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 捕まる is read as つかまる and is an intransitive verb meaning to be caught or arrested.
• Basic usage: A runaway animal being caught appears in 犬が捕まる, while arrest by the police appears in 警察に捕まる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Caught party as subject
  • The person or animal caught is the が subject, while the party making the capture can be marked with に.
• Difference from 捕まえる
  • 捕まえる is transitive and presents someone catching a target, whereas 捕まる presents the target's resulting state.