陥穽(かんせい)

かんせい
noun
pitfall; trap; snare
formal
1. pitfall; trap; snare
A physical pit dug to trap animals or enemies.
敵(てき)のために陥穽(かんせい)を仕掛(しか)ける。
To set a trap for the enemy.
兵士(へいし)たちは陥穽(かんせい)にはまって捕(と)らえられた。
The soldiers fell into a trap and were captured.
狩人(かりゅうど)は獣(けもの)を捕(と)らえるため深(ふか)い陥穽(かんせい)を掘(ほ)った。
The hunter dug a deep pitfall to catch game.
2. hidden danger; trap (figurative); pitfall in reasoning or planning
A hidden flaw or danger in a plan, contract, or argument that is not immediately apparent.
この契約(けいやく)には陥穽(かんせい)がある。
There is a hidden trap in this contract.
安易(あんい)な解決策(かいけつさく)には思(おも)わぬ陥穽(かんせい)が潜(ひそ)んでいる。
Easy solutions harbor unexpected pitfalls.
論理(ろんり)の陥穽(かんせい)に気(き)づかないまま議論(ぎろん)を進(すす)めてしまった。
The discussion proceeded without anyone noticing the pitfall in the logic.

Originally refers to a physical pit dug to trap animals or enemies. Now more commonly used figuratively for hidden dangers, flaws, or traps in plans, contracts, or reasoning. The word has a literary, formal tone.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 罠(わな): trap, snare — the everyday word for a trap, both literal and figurative
  • 落(お)とし穴(あな): pitfall — a more concrete and commonly used word for a hidden pit; also used figuratively
  • 策略(さくりゃく): scheme, stratagem — emphasizes the cunning plan behind the trap rather than the trap itself

Related Words

Compare: 罠(わな) (trap, snare)
Compare: 落(お)とし穴(あな) (pitfall)
Compare: 策略(さくりゃく) (scheme, stratagem)
general
Added 2026.4.18 6:43 · Revised 2026.10.2 9:20
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