Chinese word

圈套

Pronunciation

Pinyinquān tào

Meaning

  • nountrap

Example

他差点被那个圈套骗了。tā chà diǎn bèi nà ge quān tào piàn le

He nearly fell for that trap.

Illustration for 圈套 (trap)

More examples

对方精心设置了圈套，目的是骗取钱财。duì fāng jīng xīn shè zhì le quān tào mù dì shì piàn qǔ qián cái

The other party carefully set a trap to cheat people out of their money.

Core concept

A scheme closes around its target, leaving the person caught, fooled, or unable to escape.

Common phrases

  • 设置圈套shè zhì quān tào

    set a trap

  • 识破圈套shí pò quān tào

    see through a trap

  • 避开圈套bì kāi quān tào

    avoid a trap

Similar words

陷阱xiàn jǐng: A trap or difficult situation catches someone physically or leaves the person in trouble.
骗局piàn jú: A dishonest scheme deceives people to take their money, trust, or other valuable things.

Definition in Chinese

设下诱饵或机关使人落入、上当或受困的陷阱或计策。shè xià yòu ěr huò jī guān shǐ rén luò rù shàng dàng huò shòu kùn de xiàn jǐng huò jì cè

Word origin

圈 (quān, "to enclose") and 套 (tào, "a covering or snare") combine the ideas of surrounding and catching, which developed from a physical snare to a deceptive plan.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often picture a physical object first when they hear trap, but this word is especially useful in everyday discussions of deceptive plans and scams.

Other meanings

  • pitfallnoun

Word lists with this word