KanjiSchool
虜
“Captive / Barbarian / Low Epithet For The Enemy” in Japanese is 虜, read ryo, ro, toriko (りょ, ろ, とりこ, とりく). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 捕虜 (prisoner of war).
Try it now
What does 虜 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 虜 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Captive / Barbarian / Low Epithet For The Enemy |
| Readings | りょ, ろ, とりこ, とりく |
| Grade | Master (高手 · secondary school) |
| Curriculum | Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2) |
| Example | 捕虜 (prisoner of war) |
How to read 虜
虜 is read ryo (りょ) or ro (ろ) or toriko (とりこ) or toriku (とりく) depending on the word.
Words with 虜
- 捕虜
Learn 虜 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 虜
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28