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阱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阱jǐngtrap, snare, pitfallg, 6 strokes, radical 阝, rank #76299, Very Hard
jǐng(jing3)jing T3
  1. 1trap, snare, pitfall
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March 24, 2026

阱(穽)jǐng(jing3)

The character 阱 (jǐng) refers to a trap, snare, or pitfall, often used metaphorically to indicate a situation where someone may fall into a disadvantageous position. It can also refer to literal traps used for hunting or capturing animals. Commonly, it appears in contexts where deception or danger is implied.

Strokes6Radical阝Frequency#76299DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature and folklore, traps are often used as metaphors for deceitful situations, reflecting the importance of wisdom and caution in navigating life's challenges. This character can also be seen in proverbs warning against being too trusting.

Memory Tip

Imagine a deep pit (the shape of 阱 resembles a pit) covered with leaves, enticing an unsuspecting animal to fall in. The 'j' sound in 'jǐng' can be remembered as 'jump' — the animal jumps into the trap, illustrating the character's meaning.

Meanings of 阱

jǐng(jing3)
1trap, snare, pitfall
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 阱

阱Simplified
穽Traditional
6Strokes
阝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阱

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Podcast: 阱

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AI Study Notes for 阱

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 阱 (jǐng) with similar sounding words or characters. It is important to note that 阱 is more formal and can be used both in literary and spoken contexts. Common collocations include 阱陷 (trap and fall into a pitfall) and 陷阱 (pitfall).

HSK Study Tips

While 阱 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it shares roots with other characters related to traps and danger, such as 陷 (xiàn). Students should focus on recognizing the components of this character and its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 阱 in contexts where 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) is more appropriate. For example, saying '我掉进阱' (I fell into a trap) should be corrected to '我掉进陷阱'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阱

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Etymology of 阱

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

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

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 阱?

Decomposition of 阱

IDS Structure⿰阝井
阱Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
井Jing3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 阱?

How to say trap, snare, pitfall in Chinese

“trap, snare, pitfall” in Chinese is阱jǐng

The character 阱 (jǐng) refers to a trap, snare, or pitfall, often used metaphorically to indicate a situation where someone may fall into a disadvantageous position. It can also refer to literal traps used for hunting or capturing animals. Commonly, it appears in contexts where deception or danger is implied.

When to use 阱

Learners often confuse 阱 (jǐng) with similar sounding words or characters. It is important to note that 阱 is more formal and can be used both in literary and spoken contexts. Common collocations include 阱陷 (trap and fall into a pitfall) and 陷阱 (pitfall).

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 阱 in contexts where 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) is more appropriate. For example, saying '我掉进阱' (I fell into a trap) should be corrected to '我掉进陷阱'.

Write 阱

阱

Practice writing 阱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 阱

阱 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

专业学科充满陷____,专套粗心大意的人。

Specialist subjects are full of pitfalls for the unwary.

Example Sentences for 阱 (3)

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1
专业学科充满陷阱,专套粗心大意的人。

zhuān yè xué kē chōng mǎn xiàn jǐng, , zhuān tào cū xīn dà yì de。

Specialist subjects are full of pitfalls for the unwary.
2
我在想,会不会是什么动物掉进了陷阱。

wǒ zài xiǎng, , huì bù huì shì shí mó dòng wù diào jìn le xiàn。

I wondered if it was an animal caught in a trap.
3
太多人都掉进了这个陷阱中。

tài duō rén dū diào jìn le zhè gè xiàn jǐng zhōng。

It's a trap too many people fall into.

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Word Family of 阱

Words Containing This Character3
陷阱xiànjǐngpitfall
阱jǐngtrap
势阱potential well (physics)勢阱
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 阱

What does 陷阱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阱

The character 阱 is pronounced 'jǐng' with a third tone, which means the pitch dips and then rises.

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