How to say "trap" in Japanese

• 罠わなCommon
  nounThe physical device itself: a trap or snare set to catch animals. Also used of a trap laid for a person, so it covers both the literal device and figurative schemes.
  チーズはしばしばネズミを罠わなにおびきよせる。↗

  Cheese often lures a mouse into a trap.
• トラップCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, used for contrived or mechanical traps — a hidden hazard in a game or puzzle, or a device set to catch pests — rather than a hunter's snare.
• 落とし穴おとしあなCommon
  nounA pit dug in the ground and covered over so that an animal or person falls in; also the figurative sense of 'pitfall' — a hidden danger in a plan, deal, or situation.
  このテストには落とし穴おとしあながある。↗

  This test has a catch.
• 術中じゅっちゅうCommon
  nounNot a physical trap: it denotes a trick or stratagem devised by an opponent, and appears chiefly in contexts where someone is caught in or falls into that scheme.
  私達わたしたちは彼かれの術中じゅっちゅうにはまらないように注意ちゅういしなければならない。↗

  We'll have to be careful not to play into his hands.
• 引っ掛けるひっかけるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb, not a noun: to catch or ensnare something, often by hooking or snagging it. Figuratively it covers trapping a person — that is, tricking or duping them.
  セーターをあの釘くぎにひっかけちゃった。↗

  I caught my sweater on that nail.

Use 罠 for a physical trap or snare, 「トラップ」 for contrived or mechanical traps, 「落とし穴」 for pit traps and figurative pitfalls, 術中 for an opponent's scheme, and 「引っ掛ける」 as the verb for catching or ensnaring.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 罠わなtrap (for catching animals)
• トラップtrap
• 落とし穴おとしあなpitfall
• 術中じゅっちゅうtrick
• 陥れるおとしいれるto trap (into a difficult situation)
• 陥穽かんせいtrap
• 詰ますつますto corner (esp. an opponent's king in shogi)
• 封じ込めるふうじこめるto shut in
• 足かせあしかせfetters
• 計略けいりゃくplan
• はさむto catch (e.g. a finger in a door)
• 引っ掛けるひっかけるto hook
• 仕掛けしかけtrick
• 術じゅつstratagem
• 絡め取るからめとるto entangle
• 引っ掛けひっかけsnare
• おとりdecoy
• 詰めるつめるto corner (esp. an opponent's king in shogi)
• 落としおとしtrap