抱く

• Reading: いだく
• Romaji: idaku
• Kanji breakdown: 抱 (hou/daku/idaku) — embrace, hold, harbor
• Pronunciation: /i.da.kɯ/

Meaning

To hold; to embrace; to harbor (feelings). A literary verb for physically or emotionally holding something close.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. Read as いだく in literary/written contexts (feelings, ideals) and だく in physical contexts (holding a baby). 夢を抱く (to hold a dream), 疑問を抱く (to harbor doubts), 希望を抱く (to hold hope). More formal and literary than 持つ for feelings.

Examples

1. 彼女は将来に大きな夢を抱いている。 She holds big dreams for the future.
2. その説明に疑問を抱いた人も多かった。 Many people had doubts about that explanation.
3. 新しい計画に希望を抱いている。 I have high hopes for the new plan.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, speeches, writing

Tone: literary

Origin & History

From 抱 (hou/daku/idaku, to embrace). The kanji combines 扌(hand radical) and 包 (to wrap) — wrapping something in one's arms, both literally and figuratively.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated