虚情假意 (xū qíng jiǎ yì) — hypocrisy, insincerity, phony affection | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'phony affection / insincere feelings' — affection or kindness that's put on, not real. Often used to unmask someone's false warmth or friendly act.

idiom

hypocrisyinsincerityphony affection

Examples

，虚情假意，。
Tā duì nǐ nà me rè qíng, qí shí shì xū qíng jiǎ yì, nǐ bié shàng dàng.
He's so warm to you, but it's actually hypocrisy; don't be fooled.
，虚情假意。
Shāng chǎng lǐ nà xiē xiào róng mǎn miàn de tuī xiāo yuán, hěn duō dōu shì xū qíng jiǎ yì.
Those smiling salespeople in the mall, many of them are just putting on a fake show.
，虚情假意。
Jié hūn diǎn lǐ shàng, qīn qi men de zhù fú yǒu xiē shì xū qíng jiǎ yì.
At the wedding, some relatives' blessings were insincere.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

虚情

虚xūempty情qíngfeeling

偏正Modifier + head

假意

假jiǎfake意yìintention

偏正Modifier + head

虚情 is empty feeling and 假意 is fake intention, so the idiom describes pretended affection.

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 虛; 虚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

丘丘qiūhill

Sound part声符shēngfú

虍

虍hū虛xū

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 虛 pairs the upper 虍, which gives the sound, with a lower part shaped like 丘, 'hill'; the simplified 虚 is a later shorthand.

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

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

青qīng情qíng

Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

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

亻叚假

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

叚

叚jiǎ假jiǎ

Same sound today

假 pairs 亻 (person) with 叚, which gives the sound jiǎ.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in

Idioms & Set Phrases Personality & Traits

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