沦陷

淪陷

lúnxiàn

verb #21,899

Meanings

1 to fall (to the enemy)
2 to be occupied (by enemy forces)
3 to sink into (figurative)

Characters

to sink; to fall; to be lost

to fall into; to sink; to be captured

Examples

这座城市在战争中沦陷，被敌军占领。

Zhè zuò chéngshì zài zhànzhēng zhōng lúnxiàn, bèi díjūn zhànlǐng.

The city fell to the enemy during the war and was occupied.

他彻底沦陷在她的笑容里。

Tā chèdǐ lúnxiàn zài tā de xiàoróng lǐ.

He fell completely under the spell of her smile.

1937年，南京沦陷，发生了惨绝人寰的大屠杀。

1937 nián, Nánjīng lúnxiàn, fāshēng le cǎnjué rénhuán de dàtúshā.

In 1937, Nanjing fell to the enemy and a horrific massacre took place.

Tips

usage

沦陷 is primarily a military/political term meaning a city or territory falling to the enemy. In modern colloquial usage, it's often used humorously to mean 'falling for' someone or something: 沦陷在她的笑容里 — 'conquered by her smile'.

Stroke Order

沦 lún

陷 xiàn