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March 24, 2026
逮捕dàibǔ(dai4bu3)
The verb 逮捕 (dài bǔ) means to arrest or apprehend someone, typically in a legal context. It is commonly used by law enforcement to indicate the act of detaining an individual suspected of a crime, and it emphasizes the formal process involved in such actions.
Strokes21Frequency#1354DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In China, the process of arrest is often accompanied by significant media coverage, especially for high-profile cases, reflecting the public's interest in the legal system. The term 逮捕 is frequently used in news reports discussing crime and law enforcement.
Memory Tip
Imagine a detective with a giant net (逮) catching a criminal (捕). The character 逮 has the radical for 'walk' or 'reach', suggesting the action of reaching out to apprehend someone. The sound 'dai' can remind you of 'dive', which you might do to catch something in a net.
Meanings of 逮捕
dàibǔ(dai4bu3)
1to arrest
2to apprehend
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About 逮捕
逮捕Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1354Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 逮捕
Podcast: 逮捕
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AI Study Notes for 逮捕
Quick Contrast
拘捕 (jūbǔ) - use 逮捕 (dàibǔ) when emphasizing the formal legal context of an arrest, while 拘捕 (jūbǔ) can imply a broader sense of detaining without the same legal connotation.
Usage Notes
逮捕 is primarily used in formal contexts related to law enforcement and should be avoided in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with 捕捉 (bǔ zhuō), which means to catch, but is less formal and can refer to animals or objects.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 逮捕 connects well with other legal and formal terms that describe actions taken by authorities. Students should focus on its usage in context, especially in legal scenarios and news reports.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 逮捕 with 拘捕 (jū bǔ), thinking they are interchangeable, but 拘捕 is not commonly used and sounds awkward. Remember that 逮捕 is the standard term for formal arrests.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 逮捕
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The verb 逮捕 (dài bǔ) means to arrest or apprehend someone, typically in a legal context. It is commonly used by law enforcement to indicate the act of detaining an individual suspected of a crime, and it emphasizes the formal process involved in such actions.
When to use 逮捕
逮捕 is primarily used in formal contexts related to law enforcement and should be avoided in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with 捕捉 (bǔ zhuō), which means to catch, but is less formal and can refer to animals or objects.
逮捕 or something close to it
拘捕 (jūbǔ) - use 逮捕 (dàibǔ) when emphasizing the formal legal context of an arrest, while 拘捕 (jūbǔ) can imply a broader sense of detaining without the same legal connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 逮捕 with 拘捕 (jū bǔ), thinking they are interchangeable, but 拘捕 is not commonly used and sounds awkward. Remember that 逮捕 is the standard term for formal arrests.
Write 逮捕
逮
捕
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Grammar Patterns of 逮捕
逮捕 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
警察以携带攻击性武器为由____了我。
The police nicked me for carrying an offensive weapon.
Example Sentences for 逮捕 (10)
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1
警察以携带攻击性武器为由逮捕了我。
jǐng chá yǐ xié dài gōng jī xìng wǔ qì wéi yóu dài bǔ le wǒ。
The police nicked me for carrying an offensive weapon.
