to catch, to seize

JLPT N3 11 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (dǎi) primarily means "to catch" or "to seize," often used in the context of law enforcement or capturing criminals. It is a formal term commonly seen in news reports or legal contexts.

Common Collocations

  • 逮捕 (dǎibǔ): to arrest; the most frequent compound involving .
  • (dǎi zhù): to catch hold of; used for physically catching someone or something.

Usage Notes

When using , it usually implies an official or forceful capture, such as police arresting a suspect. It is not typically used for casual catching like catching a ball. For everyday catching, verbs like (zhuā) or (jiē) are more common.

Confusions

Do not confuse with (dài), which means "to substitute" or "generation." Also, is more formal and specific than , which can mean "to grab" or "to catch" in a broader sense.

Example Sentences

The police finally caught the fugitive.

After he was arrested, the lawyer immediately got involved.

The police are working hard to arrest more suspects.