godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
Literal fishing: using a rod, line, and bait to catch fish or other aquatic animals.
週末に川でマスを釣った。
I fished for trout in the river on the weekend.
彼は釣りが趣
Fishing is his hobby, and he often goes to the sea to catch fish.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
Figurative use: to draw someone in with bait-like tactics, often with a nuance of deception or manipulation. Frequently used in the passive form 釣られる.
See also: 釣られる
甘い言葉で客を釣る商法には注意が必要だ。
You need to be careful of business practices that lure customers with sweet talk.
彼の冗談に釣られて笑ってしまった。
I was drawn in by his joke and ended up laughing.