陷 xiàn to sink
to sink; to plunge; trap; pitfall; to get stuck; to frame
How to remember 陷: 阝 mound + 臽 pitfall = to sink. Behind the sandy mound at the playground the kids dig a pitfall for Dad, and laugh as his foot begins to sink.
Component breakdown
陷 = 阝 mound + 臽 pitfall
- 阝 mound
- 臽 pitfall
Behind the sandy mound at the playground the kids dig a pitfall for Dad, and laugh as his foot begins to sink.
How it is used
- To sink into / get stuck. 陷入 (xiànrù) to fall into (陷入困境 to fall into a predicament, 陷入沉思 to sink into thought).
- A trap or flaw: 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) a pitfall/trap, 缺陷 (quēxiàn) a defect. To frame someone: 陷害 (xiànhài) & 诬陷 (wūxiàn) to entrap with false charges.