1.
pitfall, trap hole
A concealed hole in the ground designed to trap animals or people who step on it.
落とし穴を掘る。
To dig a pitfall trap.
子供たちが砂浜に落とし穴を作っていた。
The children were making a pitfall trap on the beach.
動物が落とし穴にはまって動けなくなった。
An animal fell into the trap and couldn't move.
2.
pitfall, hidden danger, trap
A hidden risk, unexpected problem, or deceptive situation that catches someone off guard.
この契約には落とし穴がある。
This contract has a hidden pitfall.
安い物件には落とし穴があることが多い。
Cheap properties often come with hidden catches.
成功に見えても落とし穴に気をつけなければならない。
Even when things look successful, you need to watch out for hidden pitfalls.
Compound of 落とす (to drop) + 穴 (hole). The figurative sense (hidden danger) is more common than the literal sense in everyday use.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 落とし穴にはまる: to fall into a trap/pitfall
- 落とし穴に気をつける: to watch out for pitfalls
- ～には落とし穴がある: there is a pitfall in ~
- 思わぬ落とし穴: an unexpected pitfall
- 落とし穴を掘る: to dig a pitfall trap (literal)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- わな: trap, snare — can be physical or figurative
- 陥いれる: to trap someone, to entrap
- 落とし穴 specifically implies something hidden that you don't notice until it's too late