‘抓捕’ is a compound verb meaning 'to arrest' or 'to apprehend'—typically referring to law enforcement officers taking a suspect into custody. The first character 抓 (zhuā) literally means 'to grab' or 'to seize', emphasizing physical capture; the second character 捕 (bǔ) means 'to catch' or 'to trap', often used in contexts like catching criminals or animals. Together, they form a formal, action-oriented term used almost exclusively in legal, police, or news reporting contexts—not in casual speech. It implies an official, authorized act, not just detention but the culmination of an investigation leading to custody.

This word carries a strong connotation of legitimacy and procedure: it’s rarely used for unauthorized or violent captures. You’ll commonly see it in headlines ('警方成功抓捕嫌疑人'), crime reports, or official announcements. It does not imply conviction—only the act of taking someone into custody for questioning or trial. Unlike more general terms like ‘抓住’, ‘抓捕’ is institutionally grounded and seldom appears in metaphorical or non-legal usage.