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编造 (biān zào) — to compile, to draw up (a list, document, budget); to fabricate, to make up (a lie, excuse, story)

Definition

Covers both senses: to compile/draw up a document and to fabricate a lie. For the negative sense, 虚构 is more literary (fiction, characters); 造 alone is briefer and broader (to make/build or fabricate).

verb
to compileto draw up (a list, document, budget)to fabricateto make up (a lie, excuse, story)

Examples

  • 编造。
    Tā men biān zào le yí fèn nián dù yù suàn bào gào.
    They compiled an annual budget report.
  • ，编造。
    Tā wèi le táo bì zé rèn, biān zào le yí gè huāng miù de jiè kǒu.
    To avoid responsibility, he made up an absurd excuse.
  • 编造。
    Nà xiē yáo yán quán shì yǒu rén è yì biān zào chū lái de.
    Those rumors were all maliciously fabricated by someone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

编biānfabricate
造zàomake

Both parts mean to make or fabricate, together indicating producing a story, list, or excuse.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 編; 编 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
扁
扁biǎn編biān
Same sound today

The traditional form 編 pairs 糸 (thread), for knitting a book together, with 扁 as the sound part; the simplified 编 is only a shorthand.

Open 编 →

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
口口kǒu
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.

Open 造 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.