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陷入 (xiàn rù) — to sink into; fall into; become trapped in (a predicament, state, etc.)

Definition

Used for abstract states — falling into a crisis, deadlock, or deep thought (often unwanted). 卷入 emphasizes being swept into a conflict or scandal; 陷 is more about literal sinking or framing.

verb
to sink intofall intobecome trapped in (a predicament, state, etc.)

Examples

  • 陷入。
    Tán pàn xiàn rù le jiāng jú.
    The negotiations reached a deadlock.
  • 陷入。
    Tā xiàn rù le shēn shēn de chén sī.
    He fell into deep thought.
  • 陷入。
    Gōng sī xiàn rù cái wù wēi jī.
    The company fell into a financial crisis.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

陷xiànsink
入rùenter

陷 (sink) and 入 (enter) combine to mean falling into a state or place.

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn陷xiàn
Same sound today

In 陷, the older form 臽 pictured falling into a trap; 阜 was added later to differentiate it.

Open 陷 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Open 入 →
Appears in
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