Translation guide
The English phrase "be taken in" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: being deceived, being admitted or received, and being made smaller. Each meaning requires different Japanese expressions.
To be fooled, cheated, or swindled by someone or something.
The most common and direct way to say 'be deceived' or 'be taken in'. Used for scams, lies, and tricks.
彼の話にすっかり騙された。
I was completely taken in by his story.
I was taken in by a scam and lost a lot of money.
Literally 'get caught', used for falling for a trick or trap. More casual than 騙される.
彼の冗談にまんまと引っかかった。
I completely fell for his joke.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to be had' or 'to be taken for a ride'. Conveys being outwitted.
彼に一杯食わされた。
I was taken in by him.
To be allowed to enter or become a member of an institution, home, or organization.
Means 'to be accepted' or 'taken in'. Used for people being welcomed into a group, community, or institution.
彼は難民としてその国に受け入れられた。
He was taken in by the country as a refugee.
新しい職場にすぐに受け入れられた。
I was quickly taken in at my new workplace.
Specifically for being admitted to a hospital. Note: this is an active verb form, not passive, but it expresses the state of being taken into hospital care.
彼は肺炎で入院した。
He was taken into the hospital with pneumonia.
Used when someone is taken into a family or home, often for care or upbringing.
孤児は親戚に引き取られた。
The orphan was taken in by relatives.
To alter a garment so that it fits more tightly.
Used for taking in the seams of clothing to make it smaller. Often used in the potential form or passive.
このスカートはウエストが詰められる。
This skirt can be taken in at the waist.
Literally 'be made thinner', can be used for altering clothes but less common than 詰められる.
ズボンの裾が細くされた。
The trouser legs were taken in.
Do not translate 'be taken in' word-for-word as 取られる (torareru) or 入れられる (irerareru). These do not convey the idiomatic meanings and will cause confusion.