抱える

• 読み: かかえる
• ローマ字: kakaeru
• 漢字の分解: 抱 (kaka/hou) — embrace, hold in arms
• 発音: /ka.ka.e.ɾɯ/

意味

To hold in one's arms; to carry; to have (a problem or burden). Physically carrying something large or bearing an abstract burden.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. Has both physical and figurative uses. Physical: carrying a large object in both arms (荷物を抱える). Figurative: having problems (問題を抱える), having employees (社員を抱える), bearing worries (不安を抱える). The figurative sense of carrying burdens is extremely common in everyday Japanese.

例文

1. 大きな荷物を抱えて階段を上った。
2. 彼はたくさんの悩みを抱えている。
3. この会社は三百人の社員を抱えている。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, business, emotions

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

The kanji 抱 combines hand (扌) and wrap/embrace (包), creating 'to wrap with hands' — the physical act of encircling something with one's arms. Extended naturally to encompass abstract burdens held within.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal