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中计 (zhòng jì) — to be tricked, to fall into a trap

Definition

中计 (zhòng jì) means to fall into someone's trap or scheme — the verb form, with a trickster usually implied (someone's 计). Compare 上当, which is more colloquial and focuses on being deceived yourself.

verb
to be trickedto fall into a trap

Examples

  • ，中计。
    Nǐ yào xiǎo xīn, bié zhòng jì.
    You have to be careful, don't fall into the trap.
  • 。
    Tā yǐ jīng zhōng guò yí cì jì le.
    He has already been tricked once.
  • 。
    Tā zhōng le tā de jì.
    He fell into her trap.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

中zhōngfall into
计jìscheme/trap

'中' as 'fall into' and '计' as 'scheme/trap' combine to mean being tricked.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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