陷 (xiàn)

pitfall; trap; to get stuck; to sink; to cave in; to frame (false char

HSK 3.1 level 7
10 strokes

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 臽 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“陷，高下也。一曰陊也。从，从臽，臽亦聲。”

Components

阝 (meaning) — 阝 is a component form of 阜.
臽 (sound, iconic) — Depicts a person (人) falling into a pit or a trap (凵).