ham6 zing6陷阱
Jyutpingham6 zing6
Yalehahm jihng
Definition
A trap or pitfall, both literally for catching animals and figuratively as a deceptive situation.
- a physical trap or pitfall used to catch animals
- figurativea deceptive situation designed to trick or catch someone out
neutralother
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of a physical snare for animals, this term is frequently used in metaphorical contexts to describe deceptive situations or schemes. It often appears in news reports or warnings regarding scams, such as financial or employment fraud. It carries a sense of being lured into a disadvantageous position through manipulation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be careful, that is a trap!
Do you think this job is an employment trap?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 圈套, which specifically implies a pre-planned scheme or conspiracy set by someone, whereas 陷阱 can also refer to a naturally occurring dangerous situation or an oversight in a system.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
