Meaning
抱 means to embrace, hold in one's arms, or hug. Beyond the physical, it describes harboring feelings or abstract burdens — anxiety quietly held in the chest, a dream carried through the years. That double life, physical and emotional, makes 抱 one of the more expressive kanji at N2.
抱 is built from two parts: the hand radical 扌 on the left (simplified from 手, "hand"), and 包 on the right, meaning "to wrap" or "to envelop." Put them together: hands wrapping around something. A hug, in kanji form. The right-side component 包 does real work — it pulls the meaning of enclosing directly into the character, so once you know 包, 抱 sticks.
Written in 8 strokes, 抱 is a secondary-school Joyo kanji — not part of the elementary curriculum, but common in daily speech, fiction, and news. Once you learn it, you'll notice it everywhere: reunion scenes, stories about bearing too much alone, a child's cry of だっこ！
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is ホウ. It appears almost entirely in compound words (熟語, jukugo) and rarely stands alone. Expect it in formal writing and abstract expressions, not everyday conversation.
- 抱擁 (houyou) — an embrace, especially a warm or loving one
- 抱負 (houfu) — ambition, aspirations, one's inner goals (literally "what one holds inside")
- 介抱 (kaihou) — nursing, tending to someone sick or injured
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Three kun'yomi, each with its own feel — and all common in everyday speech.
だく — The most direct reading for physically holding or hugging someone. It carries warmth and tenderness.
- 抱く (daku) — to hold in one's arms, to hug
- 抱っこ (dakko) — being carried in someone's arms (especially said by or about children)
- 抱き合う (dakiau) — to embrace each other
いだく — More literary. Used for harboring abstract feelings, ideals, or emotions — things held inside the heart rather than in the arms. Common in written Japanese.
- 夢を抱く (yume wo idaku) — to cherish a dream, to hold a dream close
- 不安を抱く (fuan wo idaku) — to harbor anxiety, to carry unease
- 希望を抱く (kibou wo idaku) — to hold onto hope
かかえる — Holding something awkwardly under one's arm, or dealing with a burden that weighs on you. Think of someone struggling under a pile of boxes — or under a pile of problems.
- 問題を抱える (mondai wo kakaeru) — to be burdened with a problem
- 抱え込む (kakaekomu) — to shoulder everything alone, to take on too much without asking for help
- 荷物を抱える (nimotsu wo kakaeru) — to carry luggage in one's arms
Common Words & Compounds
Key compounds, grouped by how 抱 is being used.
Physical embracing & holding:
- 抱擁 (houyou) — an embrace, a warm hug
- 抱っこ (dakko) — being held in someone's arms (casual, childlike)
- 抱き締める (dakishimeru) — to hold tightly, to squeeze in a hug
- 抱き合う (dakiau) — to hug each other, to embrace mutually
- 胸に抱く (mune ni daku) — to hold to one's chest, to hold close
Emotional & abstract holding:
- 抱負 (houfu) — one's aspirations, inner goals
- 夢を抱く (yume wo idaku) — to hold a dream in one's heart
- 希望を抱く (kibou wo idaku) — to hold onto hope
- 疑問を抱く (gimon wo idaku) — to have doubts, to question something
Carrying burdens:
- 問題を抱える (mondai wo kakaeru) — to be burdened with a problem
- 抱え込む (kakaekomu) — to shoulder everything alone, to take on too much
- 介抱 (kaihou) — nursing, caring for an ill or injured person
Example Sentences
母は赤ちゃんをそっと抱いた。
Haha wa akachan wo sotto daita.
The mother gently held the baby in her arms.
彼は大きな夢を抱いて上京した。
Kare wa ookina yume wo idaite joukyou shita.
He moved to Tokyo carrying a big dream.
「抱っこして！」と子供が泣きながら言った。
"Dakko shite!" to kodomo ga naki nagara itta.
"Hold me!" the child said through tears.
彼女は多くの問題を一人で抱えていた。
Kanojo wa ooku no mondai wo hitori de kakaete ita.
She was carrying a lot of problems entirely on her own.
二人は再会を喜んで抱き合った。
Futari wa saikai wo yorokonde dakiatta.
The two embraced joyfully at their reunion.
この計画には多くのリスクが伴うと疑問を抱いている。
Kono keikaku ni wa ooku no risuku ga tomonau to gimon wo idaite iru.
I have doubts about whether this plan really involves that many risks.
看護師が病人を介抱している。
Kangoshi ga byounin wo kaihou shite iru.
The nurse is tending to the sick patient.
彼は新年の抱負を発表した。
Kare wa shinnen no houfu wo happyou shita.
He announced his New Year's aspirations.
彼女は愛犬をしっかりと抱き締めた。
Kanojo wa aiken wo shikkari to dakishimeta.
She hugged her beloved dog tight.
仕事を抱え込まずに、周りに相談してください。
Shigoto wo kakaekomazu ni, mawari ni soudan shite kudasai.
Don't shoulder all the work alone — talk to the people around you.
Memory Tip
Think of 抱 as a hand (扌) wrapping (包) around someone. The right side, 包, means "to wrap" — like folding paper around a gift. Add the hand radical 扌, and you get arms wrapping completely around a person. Picture a parent scooping up a child and holding them close. That's 抱.
For the abstract meanings, stretch the image: arms can hold a person, and the heart can hold a dream (夢を抱く) or a worry (不安を抱く). Whatever you keep close — physically or emotionally — that's 抱.