陷

xiàn = xi + an4

pitfall / trap / to get stuck / to sink / to cave in / to frame (false charge) / to capture (a city in battle) / to fall (to the enemy) / defect

陷 = 臽 + 阝 : After Marie Curie (xi) caught the crane in the anthill's bathroom (an4) she wants to catch the pope (阝) next. She knows that a normal sling trap (臽) will not work, so she digs a pitfall (陷) this time, but to be on the safe side she installs an additional sling trap (臽) at the bottom of the pitfall (陷).

陷 character breakdown

陷
- 臽
  - 臼
  - ⺈
- 阝

臽

xiàn = xi + an4

pitfall / trap (archaic)

臽 = ⺈ + 臼 : Marie Curie (xi) wants to catch the crane (⺈) and set up a trap (臽) in the anthill's bathroom (an4). She prepares a sling trap (臽) and places a mortar (臼) with some food in the middle of the sling, and soon she will catch the crane.

阝

Character component without intrinsic meaning

When on the left hand side of any character, it's the pope, but when it's on the right hand side of any character, it's the emperor.

臽

xiàn = xi + an4

(archaic) pit; hole in the ground / (archaic) variant of 陷[xian4]