欺瞒 (qī mán) — to deceive; to hoodwink; to dupe

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to deceive / hoodwink' someone by hiding the truth. Stronger and more literary than everyday 骗 (piàn); used in official, legal, or news contexts.

verb
to deceiveto hoodwinkto dupe

Examples

  • 欺瞒，。
    Tā shì tú qī mán zhēn xiàng, dàn zuì zhōng hái shì bèi fā xiàn le.
    He tried to hoodwink the truth, but in the end he was found out.
  • 欺瞒，。
    Zuò shēng yi bù néng qī mán gù kè, fǒu zé huì shī qù xìn yù.
    In business you can't deceive customers, or you'll lose trust.
  • 欺瞒，。
    Tā yì zhí qī mán zhe zì jǐ de jiā rén, zhí dào shì qing bài lù.
    She had been duping her family all along, until things came to light.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

欺qīdeceive
瞒mánhide

欺 and 瞒 both describe hiding the truth from someone.

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
欠欠qiànbreath
Sound part声符shēngfú
其
其qí欺qī
Same sound today

欺 is made of 其, which gives its sound, and 欠, which means breath.

Open 欺 →

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 瞞; 瞒 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼瞞mán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 瞞 pairs 目 (eye) with 㒼, which gives the sound and means to cover tightly; this explanation is about 瞞, not 瞒.

Open 瞒 →

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