1.
pitfall; trap; snare
A physical pit dug to trap animals or enemies.
敵のために陥穽を仕掛ける。
To set a trap for the enemy.
兵士たちは陥穽にはまって捕らえられた。
The soldiers fell into a trap and were captured.
狩人は獣を捕らえるため深い陥穽を掘った。
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.
この契約には陥穽がある。
There is a hidden trap in this contract.
安易な解決策には思わぬ陥穽が潜んでいる。
Easy solutions harbor unexpected pitfalls.
論理の陥穽に気づかないまま議論を進めてしまった。
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:
- 陥穽にはまる: to fall into a trap
- 陥穽に陥る: to fall into a pitfall
- 陥穽を仕掛ける: to set a trap
- 陥穽が潜む: for a pitfall to lurk
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 罠: trap, snare — the everyday word for a trap, both literal and figurative
- 落とし穴: pitfall — a more concrete and commonly used word for a hidden pit; also used figuratively
- 策略: scheme, stratagem — emphasizes the cunning plan behind the trap rather than the trap itself