Meaning
陷阱 refers to a trap or snare, either literal (like an animal trap) or figurative (like a deceptive scheme or hidden danger). The word combines the idea of falling into a hole (陷) with a well or pit (阱), creating the image of something one falls into unwittingly.
Usage
This word is commonly used in both literal contexts (hunting traps, physical dangers) and metaphorical ones (scams, deceptive situations, logical fallacies). It often appears in warnings or descriptions of danger. Native speakers frequently use it to describe situations where someone is being deceived or manipulated, such as contract traps or conversation traps.
Examples
- 01签合同之前要仔细阅读，小心法律陷阱。, .Before signing a contract, read it carefully and watch out for legal traps.
- 02猎人在森林里设置了许多陷阱来捕捉野兽。.The hunter set many traps in the forest to catch wild animals.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个陷阱
- 种一种陷阱
Common collocations
- 掉进陷阱to fall into a trap
- 设置陷阱to set a trap
- 避免陷阱to avoid a trap
- 消费陷阱consumer trap
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters contain the radical 阝(mound/hill), relating to terrain features. 陷 originally meant to sink into the ground, while 阱 specifically referred to a pit dug as a trap for animals.