Meaning and Usage
The verb 捕まる (つかまる) primarily means "to be caught" or "to be arrested." It is often used in contexts involving police or authority catching someone, such as a criminal or thief. However, it also has everyday uses meaning "to hold on to something," like a handrail or strap, especially in transportation.
Common Contexts
- Being arrested or caught: Used when someone is captured by police or caught in the act.
- Holding on: Used when physically grabbing or holding onto something for safety or stability.
- Getting caught by a person: Can mean being stopped or detained by someone, often leading to a longer interaction.
Collocations and Patterns
- 警察に捕まる (けいさつにつかまる): to be caught/arrested by the police.
- つり革に捕まる: to hold on to a train strap.
- 友達に捕まる: to be caught or detained by a friend (often figurative, meaning getting involved in a conversation or situation).
Register and Nuance
捕まる is a casual to neutral verb. When talking about arrests, it can be used in everyday conversation without sounding too formal. When used for holding on, it is very common in spoken Japanese.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 捕まる (to be caught) with 捕まえる (つかまえる), which means "to catch" (active form). Remember, 捕まる is intransitive (something happens to the subject), while 捕まえる is transitive (the subject does the catching).