adjective / bound morpheme HSK 5
Traditional 偽
false · fake · counterfeit · pseudo-
Meaning
伪 means 'false' or 'fake' and is primarily used as a bound morpheme in compound words to indicate something is counterfeit, deceptive, or illegitimate. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting that something pretends to be what it is not.
Usage
This character rarely appears alone in modern Chinese. It is almost always combined with other characters to form words like 伪造 (to forge), 虚伪 (hypocritical), or 伪君子 (hypocrite). It is commonly used in formal or written contexts, particularly in legal, political, or moral discussions.
Examples
- 01他伪造了公司的财务报告。.He forged the company's financial report.
- 02这个人太虚伪了，表面一套背后一套。, .This person is too hypocritical, saying one thing but doing another.
Common collocations
- 伪造证件to forge documents
- 伪君子hypocrite (false gentleman)
- 伪装to disguise, camouflage
- 虚伪hypocritical, insincere
Antonyms
Origin
The character consists of the person radical 亲 (person) and 为 (to act/do), originally suggesting someone who acts falsely or pretends. The traditional form 偽 has a more complex right component.