獲得する

• Reading: かくとくする
• Romaji: kakutoku suru
• Kanji breakdown: 獲 (kaku) — seize, catch, hunt; 得 (toku) — gain, obtain
• Pronunciation: /ka.kɯ.to.kɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To acquire; to gain or win something through effort, competition, or achievement.

A Group 3 (suru) verb used for obtaining something valuable — medals, rights, customers, skills, or votes. More formal than もらう or 手に入れる. Very common in sports reporting (金メダルを獲得), business (顧客を獲得), and political coverage (票を獲得).

Examples

1. チームは決勝戦で金メダルを獲得した。 The team won a gold medal in the final match.
2. 新規顧客を獲得するために戦略を見直した。 We reviewed our strategy to acquire new customers.
3. 彼女は留学先で貴重な経験を獲得した。 She gained valuable experience during her time studying abroad.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, business, politics

Tone: assertive

Origin & History

Compound of 獲 (seize, catch, hunt) + 得 (gain, obtain). 獲 originally referred to catching game in a hunt, giving the word a connotation of actively pursuing and securing something.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal