kēng: 坑 - Pit, Trap, to Cheat, to Scam

• Keywords: keng, 坑, Chinese slang, Chinese trap, Chinese pit, to cheat in Chinese, to scam in Chinese, Chinese fandom, 入坑, 坑人, Chinese internet slang, learn Chinese, what does keng mean
• Summary: The Chinese word 坑 (kēng) is a versatile term that literally means “pit” or “hole.” However, in modern Mandarin, it's most often used as slang to describe a “trap,” “scam,” or “rip-off.” As a verb, it means to cheat or screw someone over. On the internet, 坑 (kēng) has also evolved to describe falling into a new hobby or fandom (入坑 - rù kēng), making it a crucial word for understanding both everyday complaints and online culture in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kēng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4 (Noun: pit), HSK 5 (Verb: to cheat/entrap)
• Concise Definition: A pit or hole; a trap or scam; to cheat or deceive someone.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a literal pit in the ground. The word 坑 (kēng) uses this simple, visual idea to describe a wide range of negative situations. If you get overcharged for a souvenir, you've “fallen into a pit” (你被坑了 - nǐ bèi kēng le). The souvenir itself can be called “a pit” (这个东西是个坑 - zhège dōngxi shì ge kēng). This extends to being cheated, scammed, or tricked in any way. More recently, Chinese netizens playfully use this idea to describe “falling into the pit” of a new TV show, game, or hobby—an obsession you can't easily climb out of.

• 坑 (kēng): This is a phono-semantic compound character.
  • Left side: 土 (tǔ) - This is the “earth” or “soil” radical. It provides the meaning, indicating that the character is related to the ground.
  • Right side: 亢 (kàng) - This component primarily provides the sound for the character, a phonetic clue to its pronunciation (kàng → kēng).
• Together, the character vividly paints a picture of a hole or pit in the 土 (earth). All of its modern slang meanings are metaphorical extensions of this core image of an unexpected hole you might fall into.

• 坑 (kēng) taps into a deep-seated cultural awareness of caution in social and commercial interactions. The concept of being tricked or led into a disadvantageous situation is a common anxiety, and 坑 is the go-to, everyday word to express this frustration. It reflects a pragmatic worldview where one must be vigilant against being taken advantage of, whether by a shady merchant or a misleading contract.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, we might say “I got ripped off,” “it's a scam,” or “I got screwed.” While similar, 坑 (kēng) is more visual and versatile. The metaphor of a “pit” is broader. It can describe both the action (to cheat someone) and the situation itself (a trap). You don't just “get scammed”; you “fall into a pit” (掉进坑里 - diào jìn kēng lǐ).
• Modern Evolution in Fandom Culture: The term's adoption by internet communities is a fascinating example of linguistic evolution. Describing getting into a new hobby as 入坑 (rù kēng - to enter the pit) has a self-deprecating and communal humor. It acknowledges that the new interest will consume one's time and money, but it's a pit one happily jumps into. This shared slang creates a sense of identity among fans, who can bond over being “in the same pit” together.

• 坑 (kēng) is extremely common in informal, spoken Chinese and online. Its meaning is highly dependent on context.

You'll hear it used to describe a bad deal, a faulty product, or a situation designed to make you lose out.

• “This tourist spot is a total rip-off.” (这个景点就是个坑。 - Zhège jǐngdiǎn jiùshì ge kēng.)
• “Buying this phone was a huge mistake; it's a trap.” (买这个手机真是个大坑。 - Mǎi zhège shǒujī zhēnshì ge dà kēng.)

This is one of the most common uses, describing the action of cheating or deceiving someone, especially for money.

• “That taxi driver totally ripped me off!” (那个出租车司机把我坑了！- Nàge chūzūchē sījī bǎ wǒ kēng le!)
• “Be careful, that shop is known for cheating people.” (小心点，那家店很会坑人。 - Xiǎoxīn diǎn, nà jiā diàn hěn huì kēng rén.)

Online, 坑 refers to a deep, consuming interest in a specific piece of media (a novel, a TV show, a game) or a hobby.

• 入坑 (rù kēng): “To enter the pit” - to get into a new fandom/hobby.
• 出坑 (chū kēng): “To exit the pit” - to lose interest and leave the fandom.
• 坑友 (kēng yǒu): “Pit friend” - a fellow fan who is in the same fandom.

This is another piece of internet slang, meaning “to dig a pit and not fill it.” It refers to a content creator (like an author or artist) who starts a project but never finishes it, leaving fans hanging.

• “The author started a new series again and left the old one unfinished!” (作者又挖坑不填了！ - Zuòzhě yòu wā kēng bù tián le!)

• Example 1:
  • 小心，你前面有个坑！
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn, nǐ qiánmiàn yǒu ge kēng!
  • English: Be careful, there's a pit in front of you!
  • Analysis: This is the most literal meaning of 坑. It's a simple warning about a physical hole.
• Example 2:
  • 我觉得我被那个卖家坑了，这个东西根本不值这个价钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ bèi nàge màijiā kēng le, zhège dōngxi gēnběn bù zhí zhège jiàqián.
  • English: I think I was ripped off by that seller; this thing isn't worth this price at all.
  • Analysis: Here, 坑 is used as a verb in a passive structure (被…坑了 - bèi…kēng le), which is a very common way to say “I was cheated/scammed.”
• Example 3:
  • 这家餐厅又贵又难吃，真是个坑！
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng yòu guì yòu nánchī, zhēn shì ge kēng!
  • English: This restaurant is expensive and tastes bad, it's such a rip-off!
  • Analysis: Here, 坑 is used as a noun to describe the entire experience or place as a “trap” for your money.
• Example 4:
  • 我最近刚入坑一部叫《三体》的科幻小说。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuìjìn gāng rù kēng一部 jiào《Sān Tǐ》de kēhuàn xiǎoshuō.
  • English: I recently got into (lit. “entered the pit of”) a sci-fi novel called “The Three-Body Problem.”
  • Analysis: This showcases the modern, positive slang usage. 入坑 (rù kēng) means to become a new, passionate fan of something.
• Example 5:
  • 别相信他，他这个人最喜欢坑朋友。
  • Pinyin: Bié xiāngxìn tā, tā zhège rén zuì xǐhuān kēng péngyou.
  • English: Don't trust him; he's the kind of person who loves to screw over his friends.
  • Analysis: This example shows 坑 used as a verb, highlighting its negative connotation of betrayal or taking advantage of someone.
• Example 6:
  • 这个手机游戏太坑了，不花钱根本玩不下去。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shǒujī yóuxì tài kēng le, bù huā qián gēnběn wán bu xiàqù.
  • English: This mobile game is such a scam; you can't get anywhere without spending money.
  • Analysis: Used like an adjective here, 坑 describes the nature of the game as being designed to unfairly extract money from players (a “pay-to-win” trap).
• Example 7:
  • 那个网络小说家又挖坑了，希望他这次能写完。
  • Pinyin: Nàge wǎngluò xiǎoshuōjiā yòu wā kēng le, xīwàng tā zhè cì néng xiěwán.
  • English: That web novelist started a new story again (lit. “dug a new pit”); I hope he can finish it this time.
  • Analysis: 挖坑 (wā kēng), “to dig a pit,” is slang for starting a new creative project. It implies a promise to the audience that needs to be fulfilled.
• Example 8:
  • 我玩那个游戏好几年了，现在终于决定出坑了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wán nàge yóuxì hǎo jǐ nián le, xiànzài zhōngyú juédìng chū kēng le.
  • English: I played that game for several years, and now I've finally decided to quit (lit. “exit the pit”).
  • Analysis: 出坑 (chū kēng) is the opposite of 入坑 (rù kēng). It means to leave a fandom or stop a hobby that was once all-consuming.
• Example 9:
  • 这家公司的合同里有很多坑，签之前一定要看清楚。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de hétong lǐ yǒu hěn duō kēng, qiān zhīqián yīdìng yào kàn qīngchu.
  • English: This company's contract has a lot of pitfalls/traps; you must read it clearly before signing.
  • Analysis: A more formal, but still common, use of 坑 as a noun to mean “pitfalls” or hidden clauses in a document.
• Example 10:
  • 你这不是坑爹吗？！说好的九点，怎么现在才来？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhè bùshì kēngdiē ma?! Shuō hǎo de jiǔ diǎn, zěmme xiànzài cái lái?
  • English: Are you kidding me?! We agreed on nine o'clock, why are you only just arriving?
  • Analysis: 坑爹 (kēngdiē) is a very popular and strong internet slang term derived from 坑. It literally means “to cheat one's father” and is used to express outrage or frustration at something being ridiculous or unfair.

• Formality: 坑 (when meaning “to cheat” or “a scam”) is highly informal and colloquial. You would use it to complain to a friend, but you would use a more formal word like 欺骗 (qīpiàn) or 欺诈 (qīzhà) in a written complaint or legal document.
• `坑` vs. `骗 (piàn)`: These are often translated as “cheat,” but they have different flavors.
  • 骗 (piàn) is a broader term for “to deceive” or “to lie.” Someone can 骗 (piàn) you by telling you a simple lie that doesn't cause you any material loss.
  • 坑 (kēng) strongly implies that you have been maneuvered into a disadvantageous situation, often involving a loss of money, time, or effort. It carries a heavier sense of being trapped and treated unfairly. If a friend lies about their age, they 骗 (piàn) you. If a shopkeeper sells you a fake product for a high price, they 坑 (kēng) you.
• Incorrect Usage: Avoid using 坑 in very formal or professional settings. For example, in a business meeting, instead of saying “他们的报价是个坑” (Their price quote is a rip-off), it would be more appropriate to say “他们的报价非常不合理” (Their price quote is very unreasonable).

• 骗 (piàn) - To lie, to deceive. A more general term for deception than 坑.
• 陷阱 (xiànjǐng) - A trap, a snare. More formal and often refers to a more elaborate, pre-meditated trap than 坑.
• 入坑 (rù kēng) - “To enter the pit.” The specific slang term for getting into a new hobby, show, or fandom.
• 出坑 (chū kēng) - “To exit the pit.” The opposite of 入坑; to quit a hobby or fandom.
• 坑人 (kēng rén) - A common verb-object phrase meaning “to cheat people,” often used to describe a person's or business's character.
• 坑爹 (kēngdiē) - “To cheat one's dad.” A very popular and emphatic internet slang term to express that something is outrageous, ridiculous, or a major rip-off.
• 挖坑不填 (wā kēng bù tián) - “To dig a pit and not fill it.” Slang for someone who starts creative projects (stories, comics) but never finishes them.
• 套路 (tàolù) - A “routine,” “script,” or “trick.” Refers to a series of actions or words used to trick or manipulate someone. You can fall into a 坑 because of someone's 套路.
• 宰客 (zǎi kè) - “To butcher a customer.” A specific term for overcharging customers, especially tourists. It's a specific type of 坑.