捕虜(ほりょ)

ほりょ
noun
prisoner of war; captive
formalmilitaryhistory
1. prisoner of war (POW); captive taken in battle
A person captured and held by the enemy during a war or armed conflict.
捕虜(ほりょ)になった。
He was taken prisoner.
捕虜(ほりょ)の交換(こうかん)が行(おこな)われた。
A prisoner exchange was carried out.
戦争(せんそう)が終(お)わった後(あと)、多(おお)くの捕虜(ほりょ)が故郷(こきょう)に帰(かえ)ることができた。
After the war ended, many prisoners of war were able to return to their homeland.

A formal word used in military and historical contexts. Frequently appears in news reporting, history textbooks, and discussions about international law and the Geneva Conventions.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 囚人(しゅうじん): prisoner — a person imprisoned for a crime, not specifically war-related
  • 人質(ひとじち): hostage — a person held for ransom or leverage
  • 俘虜(ふりょ): prisoner of war — an older, more literary synonym rarely used today

Related Words

Compare: 囚人(しゅうじん) (prisoner)
Compare: 人質(ひとじち) (hostage)
Compare: 虜囚 (captive)
general
Added 2026.3.30 15:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20662_horyo