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诡计 (guǐ jì) — trick, ruse, deceptive scheme

Definition

A noun for a deliberate trick or deceptive scheme — more pejorative than 耍花样 (which can mean a fancy pattern too), and more concrete than 计 ('scheme', which is neutral and can mean plan).

noun
trickrusedeceptive scheme
Easily confused

Examples

  • 诡计。
    Tā shè xià de guǐ jì zuì zhōng hái shì bèi shí pò le.
    The trick he set up was eventually seen through.
  • 诡计。
    Nà huǒ rén yòng le yí gè hěn qiǎo miào de guǐ jì piàn zǒu le tā de qián.
    That group used a very clever ruse to swindle his money.
  • ，诡计。
    Bié xiāng xìn tā, zhè bú guò shì tā de guǐ jì bà liǎo.
    Don't believe him — this is just his trick.

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.

诡guǐdeceitful
计jìplan

诡 (deceitful) and 计 (plan) combine to mean a deceitful plan.

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 詭; 诡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
危
危wēi詭guǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 詭 pairs 言 (say) with 危 as a sound part; the simplified 诡 is a later abbreviation.

Open 诡 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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