Onyomi: ホウ · Kunyomi: いだ.く, かか.える, だ.く · Meanings: embrace, hold in arms, hug
Kanji for embrace, hold in arms, hug
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The kanji 抱 is formed from the hand radical 扌 and the component 包, which originally showed something being wrapped or enclosed. Ancient scribes pictured the hand reaching out to wrap around or enclose something precious. The idea was a gentle action—using your hands to surround, protect, or hold close. Over time, this image of hands wrapping around something naturally became the meaning of “to embrace,” “to hold,” or “to hug.” It carries the feeling of gathering something into your arms with care.
抱 combines the hand radical 扌 with 包, meaning “to wrap,” creating the image of hands enclosing something in a protective or loving embrace.
Imagine using your hands (扌) to wrap around someone or something (包) you care about—that warm, wrapping motion is the meaning of 抱.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 抱える | かかえる | to hold in one's arms, to carry in one's arms, to carry under one's arm, to hold (one's head) in one's hands | common JLPT-N3 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱きしめる | だきしめる | to hug (someone) tight, to embrace, to give (someone) a tight hug, to cuddle | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱負 | ほうふ | aspiration, ambition, plan, hopes, wishes | common Noun |
| 抱く | いだく | to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby), to embrace, to hug | common JLPT-N3 Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Transitive verb |
| 抱え込む | かかえこむ | to hold a thing in one's arms, to carry in one's arms, to embrace (e.g. a baby) | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Transitive verb |
| 抱き合う | だきあう | to embrace each other | Godan verb with 'u' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 抱き上げる | だきあげる | to hold up in one's arms | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱きつく | だきつく | to cling to, to embrace, to throw one's arms around | Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 抱腹絶倒 | ほうふくぜっとう | laughing oneself into convulsions, splitting one's sides laughing, rolling with laughter | Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 抱きすくめる | だきすくめる | to hug tight, to grasp firmly, to embrace tightly | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱え | かかえ | armful | common Noun |
| 抱っこ | だっこ | carrying in one's arms (a baby, pet, doll, etc.), holding | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱擁 | ほうよう | embrace, hug, holding in one's arms | Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 抱き込む | だきこむ | to hold in one's arms | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Transitive verb |
| 抱き抱える | だきかかえる | to hold, to carry, to embrace (in one's arms) | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |