Definitions

(verb) to deceive; to cheat
(verb) to take unfair advantage of

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Composed of the phonetic component 其 and the semantic element 欠, which often relates to breath or speech, the character 欺 etymologically connects the act of deception to verbal expression. Its meaning originally centered on cheating or misleading through words, but over time it expanded to include notions of bullying or taking unfair advantage, thus broadening its semantic scope while retaining its core association with dishonesty. The graphical form of the character has remained consistent, preserving the structural relationship between its components that hint at its historical origins.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

骗朋友。

Bié qīpiàn péngyǒu.

Don't deceive friends.

负弟弟。

Tā qīfu dìdi.

He bullies his younger brother.

诈是犯罪。

Qīzhà shì fànzuì.

Fraud is a crime.

不要负弱小。

Bùyào qīfu ruòxiǎo.

Don't bully the weak.

骗了所有人。

Tā qīpiàn le suǒyǒu rén.

He deceived everyone.

诈消费者会被处罚。

Qīzhà xiāofèizhě huì bèi chǔfá.

Cheating consumers will be punished.

公司因诈行为而倒闭。

Gōngsī yīn qīzhà xíngwéi ér dǎobì.

The company went bankrupt due to fraudulent behavior.

历史上许多统治者都压过百姓。

Lìshǐ shàng xǔduō tǒngzhì zhě dōu qīyā guò bǎixìng.

Many rulers in history have oppressed the common people.