捏造 (niē zào) — to fabricate, to make up (a story, evidence, ex… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to fabricate or invent something false (evidence, excuses, facts) with the intent to deceive. Stronger and more literary than everyday 编造, and specifically implies deliberate falsification rather than casual storytelling.

verb

to fabricateto make up (a story, evidence, excuse, etc.)

Examples

捏造。
Tā niē zào le yí gè jiè kǒu lái táo bì zé rèn.
He fabricated an excuse to evade responsibility.
捏造。
Jǐng fāng fā xiàn zhè xiē zhèng jù dōu shì niē zào de.
The police found that all this evidence was fabricated.
捏造，。
Bú yào niē zào shì shí, yào chéng shí miàn duì wèn tí.
Don't fabricate facts; face the problem honestly.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

捏niēfabricate

捏 contributes the idea of fabricating, and 造 contributes the idea of making, together meaning to invent something false.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

涅

涅niè捏niē

Same sound today

In 捏, the left part 扌 is a hand, showing that the meaning involves using the fingers, while the right part 涅 gives the sound niè.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辵辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

屮

屮chè造zào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

Appears in

Communication & Speech

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