menangkap

Menangkap is a Indonesian/Malay verb meaning to catch, seize, capture, or arrest. It is transitive and used with a direct object. In everyday language, it covers catching animals or objects (menangkap ikan, menangkap bola), capturing or seizing opportunities (menangkap peluang), and idiomatic uses such as menangkap perhatian (to capture attention) or menangkap momen (to capture a moment). In a law enforcement context, it can mean to detain or arrest a person (polisi menangkap tersangka). The form’s passive is ditangkap, as in seorang tersangka ditangkap oleh polisi, meaning a suspect was arrested by the police. The agent noun for the act is penangkap, referring to the person who captures or arrests, depending on context.

Etymology and morphology: menangkap is formed from the root tangkap with the prefix me- to create a transitive verb; the pronunciation is typically [məˈnaŋkap]. The me- prefix follows Indonesian morphophonological rules, with assimilation that yields the familiar menangkap.

Usage notes: Indonesian distinguishes menangkap from menahan (to detain, hold back) and merampas (to seize by force or rob). The choice of verb depends on nuance: menangkap emphasizes the act of capturing or arresting, while menahan or merampas convey different shades of restraint or seizure. Common collocations include menangkap ikan, menangkap bola, menangkap peluang, and menangkap perhatian.

See also: tangkap; penangkap; penangkapan.

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