cap1 naa4緝拿缉拿
Jyutpingcap1 naa4
Yalechāp nàh
Definition
To apprehend or arrest a criminal or suspect.
writtenother
How it's used
Reserved almost exclusively for formal contexts like news reports, police statements, or crime dramas. It carries a heavy, authoritative tone that sounds unnatural in casual conversation. Use 捉 or 拉 instead if you are just talking to friends about someone getting arrested.
Examples
The police dispatched a large force to apprehend that robber.
Do you know when the police will be able to bring the murderer to justice?
Related words
Common phrases
to bring to justice
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this in everyday situations, such as saying they need to catch a bus or a friend, which sounds absurdly dramatic and formal. Stick to 捉 or 追 for non-criminal contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
