抱く

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 抱く, read だく, is a transitive verb meaning to hold or embrace someone in one's arms.
• Basic usage: 赤ん坊をそっと抱く uses the nonpast form for a gentle hold; 子どもを強く抱いた uses the past form for a tight embrace.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Dictionary 抱く and past 抱いた
  • Both clauses mark the person held with を. The vowel in 抱いた results from past-tense conjugation, not a different stem.