To Capture Something
To Catch Something
transitive verb, ichidan verb
The kanji itself means catch, and 捕える means to capture something or to catch something.
捕える is often used in writing to describe having someone captured to keep them from escaping. But it can also be used in more abstract contexts, like capturing a moment in a photograph, grasping a concept or idea, or seizing an opportunity.
You can remember the meaning for this because everyone wants to capture elves (える). Sorry, elves… You're just so cool, people want to capture and keep you forever.
You recently learned 捕まる, which uses the same kanji, but this word has a totally different reading. To remember it, just think about how the meaning of 捕える kind of resembles the verb 捉える that you learned a while ago. 捕える is mostly for capturing things, and 捉える is mostly for grasping ideas. So it kinda makes sense that they'd have the same とらえる reading, right?
田中さんは、このペットボトルを使って犯人を捕えるつもりだそうです。
Apparently, Mr. Tanaka intends to catch the culprits using these plastic bottles.
『ポケモン』は、モンスターボールなどで色んなポケモンを捕え、その捕えたポケモンを戦わせて育てて強くしていくゲームです。
”Pokemon" is a game in which players catch various Pokemon by using Pokeballs, etc., and make the captured Pokemon fight, grow, and become stronger.
アイドルの仕事はファンの心を捕えることかもしれませんが、私の仕事は、アイドルのデート現場をカメラで捕えることです。
An idol's job may be to capture the hearts and minds of fans, but my job is to catch idols on dates with my camera.
私の猫は鼠を捕えることが得意なんです。
Catching mice is my cat’s specialty.