kam4 caak6擒賊擒贼

Jyutpingkam4 caak6

Yalekàhm chaahk

Definition

To capture a thief; to catch a robber.

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How it's used

This phrase is heavily associated with the idiom 擒賊先擒王, which suggests that to solve a problem effectively, one should target the leader or the root cause. While it can be used literally in news or storytelling, it often carries a slightly dramatic or literary flair compared to more common verbs like 捉. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless referencing the idiom or describing a dramatic event.

Examples

ging2警caat3察hou2好faai3快zau6就kam4擒caak6賊sing4成gung1功laa3喇。

The police captured the thief very quickly.

nei5你gin3見dou2到jau5有jan4人kam4擒caak6賊mei6未aa4呀？

Have you seen anyone catching a thief yet?

Common phrases

kam4擒caak6賊sin1先kam4擒wong4王

to capture the ringleader first in order to capture the thieves

Common mistake

Learners often use this as a generic verb for catching anything, but it is specifically reserved for thieves or enemies. Do not use it for catching objects or animals, where 捉 is the appropriate choice.