上钩 (shàng gōu) — (lit.) to take the bait (of a fish); (fig.) to fall for a trick, to be trapped

Definition

Literal: a fish taking the bait. Figurative: a person being lured into a trap, scheme, or scam — close to 上当 but 上钩 emphasizes being hooked, often by temptation.

verb
(lit.) to take the bait (of a fish)(fig.) to fall for a trickto be trapped

Examples

  • 上钩。
    Nà tiáo yú zhōng yú shàng gōu le.
    That fish finally took the bait.
  • ，。
    Tā yì kāi shǐ méi shàng dàng, hòu lái hái shì shàng le gōu.
    He didn't fall for it at first, but later he still took the bait.
  • ，上钩。
    Piàn zi shè le gè quān tào, hěn duō tān xīn de rén dōu shàng gōu le.
    The scammer set a trap, and many greedy people fell for it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

上shàngget onto
钩gōuhook

上 (get onto) and 钩 (hook) combine to mean to take the bait.

Characters in this word

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

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 钩 →

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