Meaning and Usage
The word 獲物 (えもの) primarily refers to "prey" or "game" that is caught or hunted. It is often used in contexts involving hunting, fishing, or animals capturing their food. It can also metaphorically mean "spoils" or "trophy" in competitive or figurative situations.
Common Collocations
- 獲物を追う (えものをおう): to chase prey
- 獲物を狙う (えものをねらう): to aim at prey
- 獲物を捕まえる (えものをつかまえる): to catch prey
These collocations emphasize the action of pursuing or capturing the target.
Register and Nuance
獲物 is a somewhat formal or literary term, often used in written language or descriptive narration rather than casual conversation. In everyday speech, words like 魚 (さかな) for fish or 動物 (どうぶつ) for animals might be more common depending on context.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 獲物 with 食べ物 (たべもの, food). 獲物 specifically refers to the caught or hunted target, not just any food. Also, it is not used for human targets or abstract goals.
Understanding 獲物 helps learners describe hunting scenes, animal behavior, or metaphorical "catch" situations more vividly.