玩花招 (wán huā zhāo) — to play tricks, to use deceitful tactics | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to play tricks' or 'use deceitful tactics' on someone. The object (person or situation being tricked) is introduced with 对 or shown by context — you don't 'trick' a thing directly.

verb

to play tricksto use deceitful tactics

Examples

玩花招，。
Bié gēn wǒ wán huā zhāo, wǒ zhī dào nǐ zài piàn wǒ.
Don't play tricks with me — I know you're lying.
，。
Tā wán le yí gè huā zhāo, jié guǒ bèi dà jiā fā xiàn le.
He pulled a trick, but everyone found out in the end.
玩花招，。
Tán pàn de shí hou duì fāng yòu wán huā zhāo, wǒ men dé xiǎo xīn.
The other side played tricks again during the negotiations — we need to be careful.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

花招deceptive move

花huādeceptive招zhāomove

偏正Modifier + head

“玩” means play and “花招” means a deceptive move, so together it means to play tricks.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

元

元yuán玩wán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

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

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

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

扌召招

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

召

召zhào招zhāo

Same sound today

招 pairs 扌, the hand part, with 召, which gives the sound, to show beckoning with the hand.

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