# 抱 — hug; embrace

抱 means “hug; embrace”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 8 strokes. On'yomi: ホウ (hou). Kun'yomi: だ(く) (daku), いだ(く) (idaku), かか(える) (kakaeru). You'll see it in words such as 抱える (kakaeru, “to hold in one's arms; to carry in one's arms”).

- Meaning: hug; embrace
- On'yomi: ホウ (hou)
- Kun'yomi: だ(く) (daku), いだ(く) (idaku), かか(える) (kakaeru)
- Strokes: 8
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Hands at work 1

## How to remember 抱

Sounds like 包: both read ホウ.

Parts: 扌 hand · 包 wrap

## Words with 抱

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 抱える | かかえる (kakaeru) | to hold in one's arms; to carry in one's arms |
| 抱く | いだく (idaku) | to hold in one's arms; to embrace |
| 抱っこ | だっこ (dakko) | carrying in one's arms; holding |

## Don't confuse it with

[包](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/wrap/) · [拘](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/detain/) · [胞](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/cell/) · [泡](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bubble/)

## More in the “Hands at work 1” set

[破](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/tear/) · [除](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/remove/) · [捕](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/catch/) · [採](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pick/) · [抜](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pull-out/) · [伸](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/extend/) · [押](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/push/) · [抱](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/hug/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/hug/. Last updated 2026-11-01.