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踩雷

Mandarin · pinyin cǎi léi

to step on a mine
(fig.) to inadvertently do sth that has an unpleasant result
(fig.) to be accidentally exposed to a spoiler

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Characters in this entry

踩: cǎi · step on
雷: léi · thunder

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–2 · cai3 lei2

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Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

caai2 leoi4

Cantonese word readings for 踩雷. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

(literally) to step on a landmine
(figurative) to unintentionally choose a bad option from other potentially better options
(figurative) to do something illegal or high-risk

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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