verb / adjective HSK 5
Traditional 詐
to deceive · to cheat · to pretend · fraudulent
Meaning
诈 means to deceive or trick someone through dishonest means. It often appears in formal or legal contexts related to fraud, deception, and pretense. The character carries a negative connotation and implies intentional misleading or cheating.
Usage
诈 is more commonly seen in compound words like 欺诈 (fraud) or 诈骗 (to swindle) than used alone in everyday speech. When used alone as a verb, it tends to appear in literary or formal contexts. The related noun 诈骗犯 refers to a con artist or fraudster.
Examples
- 01他诈称自己是警察，骗取了老人的钱财。, .He falsely claimed to be a police officer and defrauded the elderly person of their money.
- 02这个人为人狡诈，不可轻信。, .This person is crafty and deceitful; don't trust them easily.
Common collocations
- 诈骗罪crime of fraud
- 敲诈to extort, blackmail
- 诈降to feign surrender
- 诈死to feign death
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 讠(言, speech radical) with 乍 (suddenly), suggesting the idea of suddenly speaking falsely or making deceptive statements.