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卷进 (juǎn jìn) — to be drawn into (a situation, trouble, etc.), to get involved in (often unwillingly)

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning to be swept or drawn into a situation, often against one's will. Pairs naturally with 被 in passive sentences to mark the unwilling subject.

verb
to be drawn into (a situation, trouble, etc.)to get involved in (often unwillingly)

Examples

  • 卷进。
    Tā bù xiǎng juǎn jìn zhè chǎng zhēng lùn.
    He doesn't want to be drawn into this argument.
  • 卷进。
    Zhè jiàn shì kě néng huì juǎn jìn hěn duō wú gū de rén.
    This matter might involve many innocent people.
  • 卷进。
    Tā yīn wèi hào qí bèi juǎn jìn le nà qǐ chǒu wén.
    He was drawn into that scandal out of curiosity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

卷juànroll/draw
进jìninto

卷 (draw/roll) and 进 (into) combine to mean being drawn into something.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢍏
𢍏𢍏卷juàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

Open 卷 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →
Appears in
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