幌

huǎng
巾 + 晃
Frequency#3244

Definitions

huǎng shop sign; (literary) window curtain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 巾 represents the meaning and 晃 represents the sound.

Semantic: 巾 Phonetic: 晃

About

The character 幌, structurally combining the cloth radical 巾 with the phonetic element 晃 implying brightness or oscillation, initially represented physical cloth hangings such as curtains or banners. This concrete meaning narrowed to specify the fabric signs used to identify shops and taverns. Subsequently, the word's application broadened to encompass abstract notions of a cover or pretense, mirroring the function of a literal veil or sign to present a particular appearance.

Example Sentences Hide

幌子挂在商店外。

Huǎngzi guà zài shāngdiàn wài.

The signboard is hung outside the shop.

这个幌子颜色很鲜艳。

Zhège huǎngzi yánsè hěn xiānyàn.

This signboard's color is very bright.

他以旅游为幌子收集情报。

Tā yǐ lǚyóu wéi huǎngzi shōují qíngbào.

He uses travel as a pretense to collect intelligence.

她借口生病只是个幌子。

Tā jièkǒu shēngbìng zhǐ shì gè huǎngzi.

Her excuse of being sick is just a pretense.

那个组织用慈善作幌子掩盖非法行为。

Nàgè zǔzhī yòng císhàn zuò huǎngzi yǎngài fēifǎ xíngwéi.

That organization uses charity as a pretense to cover up illegal activities.

在幌子的掩护下，他们进行了交易。

Zài huǎngzi de yǎnhù xià, tāmen jìnxíngle jiāoyì.

Under the cover of the pretense, they conducted a transaction.

这家公司以研发为幌子，实际上在逃避税收。

Zhè jiā gōngsī yǐ yánfā wéi huǎngzi, shíjì shàng zài táobì shuìshōu.

This company uses research and development as a pretense, actually to evade taxes.

国际观察员指出，这次选举不过是独裁者的一个幌子。

Guójì guāncháyuán zhǐchū, zhè cì xuǎnjǔ bùguò shì dúcáizhě de yīgè huǎngzi.

International observers point out that this election is merely a pretense by the dictator.

Related Characters

Component: 巾

常 市 带 布 帝 帮 席 币 幕 幅 帕 帐 饰 帽

Component: 晃

㨪 榥 滉 熀 鎤

Example Words

幌子 札幌