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揭穿 (jiē chuān) — to expose (a deceit, lie, or fraud)

Definition

Verb meaning to expose or lay bare a lie, trick, or fraud — stronger than 揭发 (which can mean to report or denounce wrongdoing to authorities). Focuses on the moment a deception is revealed publicly.

verb
to expose (a deceit, lie, or fraud)

Examples

  • 揭穿。
    Jǐng chá hěn kuài jiē chuān le tā de piàn jú.
    The police quickly exposed his scam.
  • 揭穿。
    Diàn shì jié mù jiē chuān le nà ge yáo yán.
    The TV show exposed that rumor.
  • 揭穿。
    Tā de huǎng yán hěn kuài jiù jiē chuān le.
    Her lie was quickly exposed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

揭jiēlift
穿chuānthrough

揭 means lift and 穿 means through, giving expose.

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shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

穿 puts 穴 (cave) and 牙 (tooth) together to show passing through or penetrating.

Open 穿 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechConflict & Agreement

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