captive, barbarian, low epithet for the enemy
On'yomi (音読み)
- リョ
- ロ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- とりこ
- とりく
About this kanji
The kanji 「虜」 primarily means "captive" or can refer to a "barbarian" or an enemy in a derogatory way. It is often used as a noun, with several related compounds. For instance, 捕虜 (ほりょ) means "prisoner of war," while 俘虜 (ふりょ) is another term for a prisoner in similar contexts. Another compound is 虜囚 (りょしゅう), which also means "captive." This kanji emphasizes the idea of being taken or captured, often in a military setting. Note that while it can have a negative connotation when referring to enemies, it can also describe individuals captured in various circumstances.
Example sentences
彼は恋の虜になった。
He became a prisoner of love.
Meanings across languages
- English
- captive, barbarian, low epithet for the enemy
- Tiếng Việt
- tù nhân
- 日本語
- 捕虜
- 한국어
- 포로
- 中文
- 俘虏
- id
- tawanan
- th
- เชลย
- es
- cautivo
- fr
- captif
- de
- Gefangener
- pt
- cativo
Common compounds
- 捕虜ほりょprisoner (of war), POW, captive
- 俘虜ふりょprisoner of war, captive
- 虜囚りょしゅうcaptive, prisoner (of war)
- 胡虜こりょnorthern barbarian tribes surrounding ancient China, foreigner, barbarian tribe
- 軍虜ぐんりょprisoner (of war)
- 被虜人ひりょにんslave
- 捕虜交換ほりょこうかんprisoner exchange
- 捕虜収容所ほりょしゅうようじょprisoner-of-war camp, POW camp
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