Explore how 抱 connects holding someone in your arms with carrying objects and harbouring thoughts.

The idea

抱 has 8 strokes; follow the linked diagram. Read 抱く as だく for holding in the arms, 抱きしめる as だきしめる, and 抱える as かかえる. 抱く can also be いだく, often with feelings or ideas.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
抱くだくThe mother holds her baby in her arms.
抱きしめるだきしめるI hugged my friend.
抱えるかかえるShe held a large bag in her arms.
抱くいだくI have doubts about that plan.

Examples

  • 母ははは赤あかちゃんを抱だいています。The mother holds her baby in her arms.
  • 私わたしは友達ともだちを抱だきしめました。I hugged my friend.
  • 彼女かのじょは大おおきな荷物にもつを抱かかえていました。She held a large bag in her arms.
  • その計画けいかくに疑問ぎもんを抱いだいています。I have doubts about that plan.
  • 彼かれは将来しょうらいに夢ゆめを抱いだいています。He has dreams for the future.
  • 子こどもは父ちちに抱だかれて眠ねむっています。The child is sleeping in their father’s arms.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The spelling 抱く alone does not tell you whether to read だく or いだく. Learn the reading with its context: 赤ちゃんを抱く versus 疑問を抱く.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 抱く in 抱く（to hold in one’s arms） in hiragana.

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    だく

    だく is the reading for holding someone in your arms: 赤ちゃんを抱く.

  2. Write the reading of 抱える in hiragana.

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    かかえる

    抱える is かかえる; it can describe carrying a large object in your arms.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 夢を＿く（いだく）［抱／包］.

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    抱

    抱 completes 夢を抱く, read ゆめをいだく: to harbour a dream.

Use it today

Trace 抱 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 抱える and make a sentence with 疑問を抱く.