獲

The core sense centers on obtaining something through exertion—whether it is prey, goods, or results.

Phono-semantic compound:

犬 (개 견) — semantic element, relating to animals, hunting, catching.

蒦 (자 확) — phonetic element 획, originally meaning “to grasp; to seize; to capture.”

蒦 contains 隹 (bird) + 艸/霍-related phonetic components, historically connected with grasping birds or prey.

Thus 獲 — “to seize/catch (as in hunting)”, extended to “to obtain” generally.

Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「獲，得也。从犬，蒦聲。」

“獲 means ‘to obtain.’ Formed from 犬 with 蒦 as the phonetic.”

Semantic development:

Hunting / capturing — original concrete meaning; to seize prey with help of dogs.

To obtain / acquire — broadened meaning: to get something (literal or abstract).

To win / achieve — to gain results, reward, profit, benefit.

To receive (as outcome) — especially in classical texts: blessings, punishment, outcome of actions.

Figurative, literary extension — to gain understanding, enlightenment, friendship, favor, etc.

In Korean, 獲(획) appears mainly in literary and formal compounds related to obtaining, receiving, or capturing.

Obtaining / gaining:

獲得 (획득) — 얻다, 쟁취하다; to obtain; to gain; to acquire

收獲 (수확) — 거두어들임; harvest; gain; yield

獲益 (획익) — 이익을 얻음; to gain benefit

獲利 (획리) — 이윤을 얻음; profit; to gain profit

Capturing / seizing:

捕獲 (포획) — 잡아 얻음; to capture; to seize (animals, targets)

生獲 (생획) — 산 채로 붙잡음; to capture alive

獲禽 (획금) — 짐승을 사로잡음; captured beast or game

Receiving / achieving (figurative):

獲准 (획준) — 승인받음; to be granted approval

獲罪 (획죄) — 죄를 입음; to incur guilt or offense

獲譽 (획예) — 명예를 얻음; to receive praise or honor

These forms appear broadly in Korean academic, administrative, literary, and scientific vocabulary.

獲 is often paired with:

得 — obtain

捕 — capture

收 — harvest

取 — take/acquire

成 — achieve

Agriculture & hunting vocabulary in classical East Asia:

收獲 (수확) originally meant “to gather what is captured by the earth,” i.e., harvest.

捕獲 (포획) retained the hunting meaning.

Classical citations:

《孟子·梁惠王上》 (Mencius)

「王若能以民為念，則天下之民皆獲其所。」

“If the king truly cares for the people, then all under heaven will obtain their proper place” — 獲 = “to obtain, to receive.”

《詩經·小雅·吉日》 (The Book of Songs)

「吉日維戊，既伯既獲。」

“On this auspicious day of Wu, the offerings have already been obtained.”

《史記·項羽本紀》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「追亡逐北，所過必獲。」

“He pursued the fleeing enemy, and everywhere he passed he made captures” — military sense of “capture.”

《後漢書·馬援傳》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「獲其心，乃可以使也。」

“When you gain a person’s heart, only then can you employ him” — figurative “gain (trust).”

《荀子·儒效》 (Xunzi)

「積善之家，必有餘慶；積不善之家，必有餘殃。獲之者其祖也。」

“The house that accumulates good will have lasting blessings; one that accumulates evil will have lasting calamity. Those who receive (獲) them are their descendants.”

These citations show the full range: capture, obtain,receive (outcome).