JLPT N3 Vocabulary – Difference between “抱く(だく)” and “抱く(いだく)”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “抱だく” and “抱いだく”
2. 抱だく
3. 抱いだく
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment

Q: Does the kanji “抱く” have different meanings when read as “だく” and “いだく”?

A: Yes, although both readings use the same kanji “抱く,” the meanings, usage, and tone differ.
“だく” is used for concrete, physical objects or people, while “いだく” is used for abstract things such as emotions or thoughts.

抱だく (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Wrapping one’s arms around and holding a person or object

[Examples]
母ははが赤あかちゃんを抱だいています。
The mother is holding her baby in her arms.

チームメイトと肩かたを抱だいて泣なきました。
I cried with my teammate as we held each other by the shoulders.

“抱だく” is used when physically holding concrete objects or people.
It refers not only to the act of holding something tightly with both arms, but is also often associated with feelings of affection, love, or encouragement.

[Examples]
この絵画かいがは母親ははおやが赤あかちゃんを抱だいて寝ねている場面ばめんです。
This painting shows a mother sleeping while holding her baby.

優勝ゆうしょうが決きまった瞬間しゅんかん、みんなで抱き合だ　あって喜よろこびました。
At the moment we won the championship, everyone hugged each other with joy.

卒業そつぎょう式しきでみんな抱き合だ　あって泣なきました。
At the graduation ceremony, everyone hugged each other and cried.

子供こどもはくまのぬいぐるみを抱だいて眠ねむっています。
The child is sleeping while holding a teddy bear.

“抱だく” can also be used not only for holding with both arms but also for actions involving holding with one arm.
In such cases, the expression “肩かたを抱だく” (to hold someone’s shoulder) is often used, which refers to putting an arm around the other person’s shoulder and pulling them close.

[Examples]
両親りょうしんを亡なくして泣ないている友達ともだちの肩かたをそっと抱だきました。
I gently held the shoulder of my friend who was crying after losing their parents.

彼女かのじょの肩かたを抱だきながら、きれいな夜空よぞらを眺ながめていました。
While holding her shoulder, I gazed at the beautiful night sky.

眠ねむそうにしている子供こどもの肩かたを抱だくと、すぐにそのまま眠ねむってしまいました。
When I held the shoulder of the sleepy child, they quickly fell asleep just like that.

抱いだく

[Meaning]
To hold thoughts or feelings in one’s heart

[Examples]
彼かれは長年ながねん、夢ゆめを抱いだき続つづけてきました。
He has held on to his dream for many years.

新あたらしい挑戦ちょうせんに大おおきな不安ふあんを抱いだいています。
I feel great anxiety about the new challenge.

[Commonly used with]
不安ふあん (anxiety)、悲かなしみ (sorrow)、愛情あいじょう (affection)、敬意けいい (respect)、疑念ぎねん (doubt)、不信ふしん感かん (distrust)、期待きたい (expectation)、夢ゆめ (dreams)　etc.

“抱いだく” is used to express internally feeling or thinking about abstract things, such as anxiety or hope.

[Examples]
日本にほん人じんは将来しょうらいに対たいして不安ふあんを抱いだくタイプが多おおいです。
Many Japanese people tend to feel anxiety about the future.

彼かれは最愛さいあいの人ひとを失うしない、今いまも深ふかい悲かなしみを抱いだいています。　
He lost his dearest loved one and still carries deep sorrow.

彼女かのじょは教育きょういくに対たいする理想りそうを抱いだき、教師きょうしになりました。
She embraced an ideal about education and became a teacher.

若者わかものには大おおきな希望きぼうを抱いだいてほしいものです。
I hope young people will hold great hopes for the future.

Let’s Compare

Which expression is more appropriate in the following situations?

[Example ①]
子供こどもは人形にんぎょうを赤あかちゃんのように、抱だいて遊あそんでいます。
子供こどもは人形にんぎょうを赤あかちゃんのように、抱いだいて遊あそんでいます。

[Example ②]
彼かれは家族かぞくに対たいして大おおきな愛情あいじょうを、抱だいています。
彼かれは家族かぞくに対たいして大おおきな愛情あいじょうを、抱いだいています。

The correct choices are:
① “抱だく” — for physical, concrete actions
② “抱いだく” — for abstract emotions or thoughts

Since “抱だく” is used for physical actions, and “抱いだく” is used for abstract feelings or ideas, they cannot usually be used interchangeably.

Summary

“抱だく” and “抱いだく”differ in both meaning and usage, and cannot be used interchangeably in most cases. It is important to use them correctly depending on the context.

[抱だく]

• Used for concrete people or objects, and expresses the physical action of wrapping one’s arms around and holding something tightly.
• It often conveys not just the action itself, but also feelings such as affection, love, or comfort.
• The phrase “肩かたを抱だく” (to hold someone’s shoulder) refers to the action of putting an arm around someone’s shoulder and pulling them close.

[抱いだく]

• Used to express holding abstract feelings or thoughts such as anxiety, dreams, or hope in one’s heart.

Similer Articles

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