TongTong
Sign in

花招 (huā zhāo) — trick, deceptive ploy or maneuver; showy but insubstantial display, flashy move (especially in martial arts or performance)

Definition

Literally 'flower move': a flashy, showy technique (martial arts, performance) or, more commonly, a deceptive trick or ploy. Often implies the display is for show and lacks real substance.

noun
trickdeceptive ploy or maneuvershowy but insubstantial displayflashy move (especially in martial arts or performance)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 花招。
    Tā yòng le xǔ duō huā zhāo cái piàn guò lǎo bǎn.
    He used many tricks to deceive the boss.
  • 花招，。
    Zhè tào wǔ shù huā zhāo suī rán hǎo kàn, dàn bù shí yòng.
    This set of martial arts flourishes looks nice but is not practical.
  • ，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zhī huì wán huā zhāo, méi yǒu zhēn shí lì.
    This company only plays fancy tricks — it has no real strength.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

花huāshowy
招zhāomove

花 showy and 招 move combine for a flashy move.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

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

Open 花 →

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
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.

Open 招 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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