卷入

• Pinyin: juǎn rù
• Hanzi breakdown: 卷 = 卷 (roll/curl — suggests being swept in); 入 = 入 (enter/into)

Meaning

To be drawn into; to be involved in; to be embroiled in. Suggests unwilling or unplanned entanglement in a conflict, scandal, or complex situation.

Implies involuntary or at least undesirable involvement — one does not volunteer to be 卷入 something. Common in news coverage of political scandals, legal disputes, accidents, and geopolitical conflicts. Also used metaphorically for being swept up in social trends.

Examples

1. 这位原本专注于科研工作的学者因一篇论文引发争议，意外地被卷入了学术界的派系纷争。 This scholar, who had originally focused on scientific research, sparked controversy with a paper and was unexpectedly drawn into factional infighting within academia.
2. 数名无辜平民在两帮势力的冲突中被卷入，造成了不必要的人员伤亡。 Several innocent civilians were caught up in the clash between the two groups, resulting in unnecessary casualties.
3. 该企业在毫不知情的情况下被卷入一起跨国洗钱案，品牌声誉因此受到严重波及。 The company was unknowingly drawn into a cross-border money-laundering case, and its brand reputation was seriously affected as a result.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, legal matters, conflicts

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他本不想参与其中，却因处置不当而被卷入了这场旷日持久的法律纠纷。(He had no intention of getting involved, but due to mishandling he was drawn into this protracted legal dispute.)
• 一旦被卷入政治丑闻，即便当事人最终被证明清白，其职业生涯也往往已经造成难以弥补的损伤。(Once embroiled in a political scandal, even if the person is ultimately proved innocent, their career has often already suffered irreparable damage.)

Don't Say

• 他主动卷入了这个项目 — 卷入 implies involuntary or negative entanglement; use 加入 or 投入 for willing participation

Origin & History

卷 (roll/sweep/pull in) + 入 (enter/into)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal