---
title: "Xianjing Meaning: 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) Means “trap”"
description: "陷阱 (xiànjǐng) means “trap; pitfall”. Hear its tones, see what 陷 and 阱 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/xianjing"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 陷阱 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

陷阱 xiànjǐng

## trap; pitfall

## Its characters

1. 陷 xiàn to fall (into enemy hands)
2. 阱 jǐng pit

## In a sentence

这道题里有个陷阱，要小心。 There's a trap in this question, so be careful.

一七年，斯里兰卡把汉班托塔港租给一家中国企业，租期九十九年，这件事常被当作“债务**陷阱**”的例子。

From [“一带一路”到底是什么？ · What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/what-is-the-belt-and-road-initiative#library-word-359-361)

[More about 陷阱](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%99%B7%E9%98%B1)

## More words with 陷 or 阱

- [缺陷 quēxiàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/quexian)
- [陷入 xiànrù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/xianru)

## Keep 陷阱 for Review

A free account keeps it, and Review brings it back just before you’d forget it.

## Look up another word

## See any word in its sentence

Get a card like this for every word on any page or YouTube subtitle.

[Add to Chrome](https://mandarinthewild.com/go/chrome?from=%2Fmeaning%2Fxianjing) [Read in the Library](https://mandarinthewild.com/library)

[Turn simplified Chinese into traditional](https://mandarinthewild.com/simplified-to-traditional)

[Free HSK practice tests and mock exams](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/hsk-practice-tests)
