阱

穽

jǐng

井 + 阝

Definitions

jǐng variant of 阱[jǐng]

jǐng pitfall; trap

Etymology

A farm 阝 with a well 井; 井 also provides the pronunciation

About

阱 is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 阝, representing a mound or farm, places the character in the context of earthworks or terrain, while the component 井 'well' simultaneously indicates the pronunciation and suggests a pit or hole. The original meaning was a deep trap pit, dug by hunters to catch animals or enemies. From this literal sense, the character came to refer to any hidden danger, treacherous snare, or cunning plot that ensnares people.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里有一个陷阱。

Zhèlǐ yǒu yīgè xiànjǐng.

There is a trap here.

小心地上的陷阱。

Xiǎoxīn dìshàng de xiànjǐng.

Be careful of the trap on the ground.

他不小心掉进了陷阱里。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn diào jìnle xiànjǐng lǐ.

He accidentally fell into the trap.

猎人用陷阱捕捉了一只狐狸。

Lièrén yòng xiànjǐng bǔzhuōle yī zhǐ húlí.

The hunter caught a fox using a trap.

这个陷阱布置得非常巧妙。

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阱。

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阱。

Nàgè piànjú qíshí shì yīgè jīngxīn shèjì de xiànjǐng.

That scam is actually an elaborately designed trap.

在人生的道路上，有时最大的陷阱是贪婪。

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

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

Related Characters

Component: 井

Component: 阝

阱