About
The character "幌", composed of the silk or cloth radical 巾 and the phonetic component 曶 which implies something fleeting or insubstantial, originally referred to a cloth curtain or a shop sign, specifically the kind of fabric banner hung outside establishments. This tangible meaning of a signboard naturally extended to the more abstract concept of a pretext or outward show, as something presented for public view that might conceal the true nature behind it. Its traditional form retains this same structure, and over time the character's usage solidified around these dual notions, where the physical object of a curtain or sign became secondary to the metaphorical idea of a facade or guise used to make an action or situation appear acceptable.
Example Sentences Hide
幌子挂在商店外。
这个幌子颜色很鲜艳。
他以旅游为幌子收集情报。
她借口生病只是个幌子。
那个组织用慈善作幌子掩盖非法行为。
在幌子的掩护下，他们进行了交易。
这家公司以研发为幌子，实际上在逃避税收。
国际观察员指出，这次选举不过是独裁者的一个幌子。