Chinese Conversation · Level 81
91 words
Chinese word
自投罗网
Pronunciation
Pinyinzì tóu luó wǎng
Meaning
- idiomwalk into a trap
Example
他不听劝告，结果自投罗网了。tā bù tīng quàn gào jié guǒ zì tóu luó wǎng le
He ignored the advice and ended up walking into a trap.
More examples
他一听好处就上当，结果一不小心就自投罗网。tā yì tīng hǎo chù jiù shàng dàng jié guǒ yí bù xiǎo xīn jiù zì tóu luó wǎng
As soon as he hears about a benefit, he falls for it and ends up walking into a trap.
Core concept
A deliberate step carries someone into danger that their own judgment could have avoided.
Common phrases
一不小心就自投罗网yí bù xiǎo xīn jiù zì tóu luó wǎng
accidentally walk into a trap
别再自投罗网了bié zài zì tóu luó wǎng le
don't fall into a trap again
Similar words
自找麻烦zì zhǎo má fán: Invite problems through one's own actions or decisions.
自讨苦吃zì táo kǔ chī: Bring suffering on oneself by doing something unwise.
Definition in Chinese
自己主动进入别人或自己设置的陷阱或困难之中，突出主动性并含有可避免性的责备意味。zì jǐ zhǔ dòng jìn rù bié rén huò zì jǐ shè zhì de xiàn jǐng huò kùn nán zhī zhōng tū chū zhǔ dòng xìng bìng hán yǒu kě bì miǎn xìng de zé bèi yì wèi
Word origin
The parts 自 (zì, "self"), 投 (tóu, "cast"), 罗 (luó, "catch"), and 网 (wǎng, "net") show someone actively putting themselves where a net can catch them, rather than arriving there by accident.
Usage tips
- The phrase assigns responsibility to the person involved, so it is less suitable when a problem is entirely caused by other people or by chance.
Other meanings
- fall into a trapidiom