逮

A phono-semantic compound consisting of:

辵 (walk; movement radical) — semantic component, indicating motion or pursuit;

隶 (lì / dài) — phonetic component, providing the sound. The structure conveys moving toward and finally reaching or catching something.
Semantic development: - movement (walking); - pursuing something; - catching or reaching; - attaining or failing to attain (abstract sense). Thus, 逮 evolved from physical pursuit and shifted to abstract attainment.

체포 (逮捕) — arrest; capture

미체 (未逮) — not yet reached; not attained

Commonly appears in the compound 逮捕, meaning “arrest,” across Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. The dual meanings “to catch” and “to reach” reflect a shared core idea: closing distance. In classical expressions like 未逮, it often conveys insufficiency or not yet attaining a goal. The character bridges physical action and abstract achievement, a common pattern in Chinese character development.
Related characters: 捕 — to catch; to seize

到 — to arrive; to reach

及 — to reach; to catch up

追 — to chase

Among these, 逮 emphasizes the moment of reaching or capturing after pursuit.