伪

偽/僞
wěi
为 + 亻

Definitions

wěi (adjective) false; fake; forged
wěi (prefix) pseudo- (prefix)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 为 represents the sound. Simplified form of 偽.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 为

About

The character 伪 (and its traditional form 偽) is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 亻 indicates a human action, while the phonetic component in the traditional form, 為 (to do), links this action to human contrivance. The core meaning thus refers to something artificial or man-made, which later developed a pejorative sense of falsehood or forgery. The simplified form 伪 replaces the phonetic element with 办, while retaining the human radical and the established meanings of artificiality and fakeness.

Example Sentences Hide

他的伪善令人厌恶。

Tā de wěishàn lìng rén yànwù.

His hypocrisy is disgusting.

这份文件被发现是伪造的。

Zhè fèn wénjiàn bèi fāxiàn shì wěizào de.

This document was discovered to be forged.

不要被伪装的友好所欺骗。

Bùyào bèi wěizhuāng de yǒuhǎo suǒ qīpiàn.

Don't be deceived by a feigned friendliness.

他提供了伪证，妨碍了司法公正。

Tā tígōng le wěizhèng, fáng'àile sīfǎ gōngzhèng.

He gave false testimony, obstructing justice.

这些伪劣产品危害消费者健康。

Zhèxiē wěiliè chǎnpǐn wēihài xiāofèizhě jiànkāng.

These shoddy and counterfeit products endanger consumers' health.

那本书里的历史描述被学者斥为伪史。

Nà běn shū lǐ de lìshǐ miáoshù bèi xuézhě chì wéi wěishǐ.

The historical account in that book was denounced by scholars as pseudo-history.

批判伪科学是普及真知的重要一环。

Pīpàn wěikēxué shì pǔjí zhēnzhī de zhòngyào yī huán.

Criticizing pseudoscience is an important part of spreading true knowledge.

真与伪的界限，有时并不像表面那么清晰。

Zhēn yǔ wěi de jièxiàn, yǒushí bìng bù xiàng biǎomiàn nàme qīngxī.

The boundary between truth and falsehood is sometimes not as clear as it appears on the surface.

Related Characters

Component: 为

为 妫 沩 㧑

Component: 亻

他 们 你 作 但 使 体 什 代 信 化 位 任 何

Example Words

伪装 虚伪 伪劣 伪善 伪娘 伪造 真伪 防伪 伪君子 伪善者 伪币 伪科学 伪证 伪军 伪造者 伪钞 伪饰 证伪