阱 jǐng trap
trap; snare; pitfall
How to remember 阱: 阝 mound + 井 a well = trap. Behind the grassy mound, the hikers find a well hidden under branches, and the guide warns it is a trap.
Component breakdown
阱 = 阝 mound + 井 a well
- 阝 mound
- 井 a well
Behind the grassy mound, the hikers find a well hidden under branches, and the guide warns it is a trap.
How it is used
- Bound to 陷阱 (xiànjǐng), a pit-trap, both literal and figurative: 掉进陷阱 (diào jìn xiànjǐng) to fall into a trap.
- Very common figuratively for a scam or hidden snare - 消费陷阱 (xiāofèi xiànjǐng) a consumer trap, 甜蜜的陷阱 a sweet trap.
- Appears only in 陷阱; think of it as the '(pit)fall' half of the word.