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引诱 (yǐn yòu) — to lure, to seduce, to entice (into doing something bad)

Definition

Verb for luring or seducing someone — usually into doing wrong, with hidden persuasion. Stronger and more negative than 诱惑 (which can be neutral temptation); subtler than 强制 (open force).

verb
to lureto seduceto entice (into doing something bad)

Examples

  • 引诱，。
    Tā bèi jīn qián suǒ yǐn yòu, jié guǒ shī qù le zì yóu.
    He was lured by money and ended up losing his freedom.
  • 引诱。
    Nà ge piàn zi yǐn yòu tā xiāng xìn le yí gè huǎng yán.
    That swindler lured her into believing a lie.
  • 引诱，。
    Bú yào bèi wài biǎo yǐn yòu, yào kàn qīng duì fāng de běn zhì.
    Don't be seduced by appearances; see the other person's true nature.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

引yǐnlead; lure
诱yòuentice

引 and 诱 both draw someone toward something, so the word means to lure or entice.

Characters in this word

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 誘; 诱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, language
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù誘yòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 誘 pairs 言 (word, language) with 秀, which supplies the sound.

Open 诱 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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