捕まえる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 捕まえる (つかまえる) adds okurigana まえる to catching 捕, forming a transitive verb.
• Basic usage: It means catching an escaped insect and, in police contexts, apprehending a wanted suspect.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Catching versus arresting
  • The object determines the rendering: 虫を捕まえる is to catch, while a police subject and a suspect support “arrest.”