Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== dàibǔ: 逮捕 - To Arrest, Apprehend ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** dàibǔ, daibu, 逮捕, Chinese word for arrest, how to say arrest in Chinese, arrested in China, daibu meaning, 逮捕 meaning, Chinese legal terms, 拘留 vs 逮捕, 抓捕 * **Summary:** Learn the formal Chinese word for "to arrest" – **逮捕 (dàibǔ)**. This comprehensive guide explores its precise legal meaning, cultural significance within the Chinese justice system, and practical usage in news and official contexts. Understand the crucial difference between being arrested (**逮捕**) and detained (**拘留**) with clear examples, helping you master a key term for understanding modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dàibǔ * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To formally arrest or apprehend a person in accordance with legal procedure. * **In a Nutshell:** **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** is the official, serious, and legal term for an arrest carried out by authorities like the police. This isn't just about "catching" someone; it signifies the start of a formal legal process. Think of it as the word you would see on a legal warrant or in a serious news report, not a word you'd use casually. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **逮 (dài):** This character means "to catch" or "to seize." It combines the radical 辶 (chuò), which signifies "walking" or "movement," with a phonetic component. You can visualize it as the act of pursuing and then catching someone. * **捕 (bǔ):** This character also means "to catch" or "to capture." It features the "hand" radical 扌 (a variation of 手, shǒu) on the left, clearly indicating a physical action of grabbing or seizing. * Together, 逮 (dài - to pursue) and 捕 (bǔ - to seize with hands) create **逮捕 (dàibǔ)**, a powerful and formal compound word that emphasizes the official, legally sanctioned act of taking a suspect into custody. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, and specifically within its legal framework, the term **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** carries significant weight. It is a precise legal action, distinct from more preliminary measures. The most important cultural and legal distinction for a learner to grasp is between **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** and **拘留 (jūliú - detention)**. In the American/Western context, people might casually use "arrested" and "detained" interchangeably. In China, the distinction is critical: * **拘留 (jūliú):** This is typically a preliminary detention, either administrative (for minor offenses) or criminal (for investigation). Police can carry this out for a limited period to investigate a suspicion. It does not necessarily mean formal charges will be filed. * **逮捕 (dàibǔ):** This is a formal arrest. It happens //after// a preliminary investigation and requires official approval from the state prosecutor's office (检察院 - jiǎncháyuàn). A formal arrest signifies that the state has found sufficient evidence to formally charge the individual and proceed toward a trial. Therefore, hearing that someone has been **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** is a much more serious development than hearing they have been **拘留 (jūliú)**. This reflects a legal system with structured, sequential steps, and understanding this term is key to interpreting news about the Chinese justice system correctly. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== You will almost exclusively encounter **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** in formal contexts. It is not a conversational word. --- In the News and Media --- News reports about crime and legal cases are the most common place you'll see **逮捕**. Journalists use it to report on official police actions and legal proceedings. Its use signals that the story is about a serious criminal matter. --- Legal Context --- In any legal document, police statement, or court proceeding, **逮捕** is the standard, official term. An arrest warrant is a **逮捕令 (dàibǔlìng)**. --- Connotation and Formality --- * **Formality:** Very High. * **Connotation:** Neutral-to-Negative. It is a neutral descriptor of a legal action, but the situation it describes (being arrested) is inherently negative for the subject. You would never use it in a lighthearted or casual way. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 警察**逮捕**了那名犯罪嫌疑人。 * Pinyin: Jǐngchá **dàibǔ** le nà míng fànzuì xiányírén. * English: The police arrested that criminal suspect. * Analysis: A standard, textbook example showing the basic structure: Subject (police) + **逮捕** + Object (suspect). * **Example 2:** * 他因涉嫌盗窃而被**逮捕**。 * Pinyin: Tā yīn shèxián dàoqiè ér bèi **dàibǔ**. * English: He was arrested on suspicion of theft. * Analysis: This shows the passive voice using 被 (bèi) and the reason for the arrest using 因 (yīn... on account of...). This is a very common structure in news reports. * **Example 3:** * 检察院已经正式批准**逮捕**这名官员。 * Pinyin: Jiǎncháyuàn yǐjīng zhèngshì pīzhǔn **dàibǔ** zhè míng guānyuán. * English: The procuratorate has already formally approved the arrest of this official. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal process. The 检察院 (procuratorate) must 批准 (pīzhǔn - approve) the **逮捕** (arrest). Here, **逮捕** functions more like a noun ("the arrest"). * **Example 4:** * 警方出示**逮捕**令后，将他带走了。 * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng chūshì **dàibǔ**lìng hòu, jiāng tā dàizǒu le. * English: After showing the arrest warrant, the police took him away. * Analysis: Introduces the related term **逮捕令 (dàibǔlìng)**, an arrest warrant. * **Example 5:** * 这起案件的主要嫌疑人已于昨日被**逮捕**归案。 * Pinyin: Zhè qǐ ànjiàn de zhǔyào xiányírén yǐ yú zuórì bèi **dàibǔ** guī'àn. * English: The main suspect in this case was arrested and brought to justice yesterday. * Analysis: **逮捕归案 (dàibǔ guī'àn)** is a common four-character phrase meaning "to be arrested and brought to justice." It's very formal and common in written news. * **Example 6:** * 全世界的新闻都在报道他被**逮捕**的消息。 * Pinyin: Quán shìjiè de xīnwén dōu zài bàodào tā bèi **dàibǔ** de xiāoxi. * English: News outlets all over the world are reporting the news of his arrest. * Analysis: Shows how the event of an "arrest" becomes "news" (消息). Again, note the use of the passive marker 被 (bèi). * **Example 7:** * 如果你拒绝合作，我们有权**逮捕**你。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ jùjué hézuò, wǒmen yǒu quán **dàibǔ** nǐ. * English: If you refuse to cooperate, we have the right to arrest you. * Analysis: A sentence you might hear in a crime movie or TV show, said by a police officer. 有权 (yǒu quán) means "to have the right/authority to." * **Example 8:** * 他被**逮捕**时，没有进行任何反抗。 * Pinyin: Tā bèi **dàibǔ** shí, méiyǒu jìnxíng rènhé fǎnkàng. * English: When he was arrested, he didn't put up any resistance. * Analysis: The structure "verb + 时 (shí)" means "when...". This describes the moment of the arrest. * **Example 9:** * 对他的**逮捕**是完全合法的。 * Pinyin: Duì tā de **dàibǔ** shì wánquán héfǎ de. * English: His arrest was completely legal. * Analysis: Here, **逮捕** is clearly used as a noun. 对他的逮捕 (duì tā de dàibǔ) means "the arrest of him" or "his arrest". * **Example 10:** * 在被**逮捕**之前，他已经逃亡了好几个月。 * Pinyin: Zài bèi **dàibǔ** zhīqián, tā yǐjīng táowáng le hǎo jǐ ge yuè. * English: Before being arrested, he had been on the run for several months. * Analysis: The "在...之前 (zài...zhīqián)" structure means "before...". This sentence provides context leading up to the arrest. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for English speakers is using **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** in casual situations where "to catch" would be more appropriate. * **逮捕 (dàibǔ) vs. 抓 (zhuā):** * **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** is a formal, legal arrest. * **抓 (zhuā)** means "to grab," "to clutch," or more colloquially, "to catch." It is a much broader and more informal term. Police can **抓 (zhuā)** a thief, but the official report will say they **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** the suspect. * **Incorrect Usage:** 我妈妈**逮捕**了我在偷吃饼干。 (Wǒ māma **dàibǔ** le wǒ zài tōuchī bǐnggān.) * **Why it's wrong:** This literally means "My mom //formally arrested// me for secretly eating cookies." It sounds absurd and comical because **逮捕** implies a legal action with police and warrants. * **Correct Usage:** 我妈妈**抓到**我偷吃饼干了。 (Wǒ māma **zhuādào** wǒ tōuchī bǐnggān le.) - "My mom //caught// me stealing cookies." * **Forgetting the 逮捕 (dàibǔ) vs. 拘留 (jūliú) distinction:** * Remember: **拘留 (jūliú)** is temporary detention for investigation. **逮捕 (dàibǔ)** is a formal arrest approved by a prosecutor, indicating the case is moving forward. Using them interchangeably when discussing Chinese legal matters is a significant factual error. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[拘留]] (jūliú) - Detention; a temporary holding for investigation, legally distinct from and less severe than a formal arrest. * [[抓捕]] (zhuābǔ) - To arrest/capture; a verb that often emphasizes the physical act of catching and arresting someone, slightly less formal than 逮捕. * [[逮捕令]] (dàibǔlìng) - Arrest warrant; the legal document authorizing an arrest. * [[嫌疑犯]] (xiányífàn) - A criminal suspect; the person who is the subject of an arrest. * [[罪犯]] (zuìfàn) - A criminal; a convict. Someone who has been found guilty, a stage beyond being a suspect. * [[警察]] (jǐngchá) - Police; the authority that carries out arrests. * [[检察院]] (jiǎncháyuàn) - Procuratorate; the state prosecutor's office that must approve a formal **逮捕**. * [[释放]] (shìfàng) - To release, to set free; the antonym of being arrested or imprisoned. * [[审判]] (shěnpàn) - Trial; to put someone on trial, the legal process that follows an arrest. * [[绑架]] (bǎngjià) - To kidnap; an illegal seizure of a person by a non-authority, contrasted with the legal seizure of **逮捕**.