Definitions

jǐng variant of 阱[jǐng]
jǐng pitfall; trap

Etymology

A farm with a well  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "阱" is structured with the radical "阝", which denotes earth or terrain, combined with the component "井" that primarily serves a phonetic function while also suggesting the concept of a hole or excavation. Its original meaning was specifically a pit dug into the ground intended to capture animals, and through extended use, the term has come to refer to traps more broadly, though it often implies a concealed pit or similar ground-based mechanism.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里有一个陷

Zhèlǐ yǒu yīgè xiànjǐng.

There is a trap here.

小心地上的陷

Xiǎoxīn dìshàng de xiànjǐng.

Be careful of the trap on the ground.

他不小心掉进了陷里。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn diào jìnle xiànjǐng lǐ.

He accidentally fell into the trap.

猎人用陷捕捉了一只狐狸。

Lièrén yòng xiànjǐng bǔzhuōle yī zhǐ húlí.

The hunter caught a fox using a trap.

这个陷布置得非常巧妙。

Zhège xiànjǐng bùzhì dé fēicháng qiǎomiào.

This trap was set up very cleverly.

我们要识别并避免潜在的陷

Wǒmen yào shíbié bìng bìmiǎn qiánzài de xiànjǐng.

We need to identify and avoid potential pitfalls.

那个骗局其实是一个精心设计的陷

Nàgè piànjú qíshí shì yīgè jīngxīn shèjì de xiànjǐng.

That scam is actually an elaborately designed trap.

在人生的道路上,有时最大的陷是贪婪。

Zài rénshēng de dàolù shàng, yǒushí zuìdà de xiànjǐng shì tānlán.

On the road of life, sometimes the biggest trap is greed.