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March 24, 2026
诈(詐)zhà(zha4)
The character 诈 (zhà) means to cheat or swindle, often involving deceitful tactics to extract information or gain something from someone. It can also imply pretending or feigning, and is commonly used in contexts involving trickery or fraud.
Strokes7Radical讠Frequency#13144DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of deception is often linked to traditional stories and proverbs that caution against being overly trusting. The idea of a 'trickster' character is prevalent in folklore, reflecting societal views on honesty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sly fox (the radical '诈' resembles a fox) cunningly deceiving a farmer by pretending to be a harmless rabbit. This imagery connects the shape of the character to its meaning of deception and the sound 'zhà' to the idea of a sudden trick or bluff.
Meanings of 诈
zhà(zha4)
1to cheat
2to swindle
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 诈
诈Simplified
詐Traditional
7Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13144Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 诈
Podcast: 诈
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AI Study Notes for 诈
Quick Contrast
诈 (zhà) vs 欺 (qī) — use 诈 when emphasizing deceitful tactics specifically for swindling, while 欺 focuses more broadly on deceiving or misleading.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sly fox (the radical '诈' resembles a fox) cunningly deceiving a farmer by pretending to be a harmless rabbit. This imagery connects the shape of the character to its meaning of deception and the sound 'zhà' to the idea of a sudden trick or bluff.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the context in which you use 诈, as it has negative connotations and is typically informal. Common collocations include 诈欺 (zhàqī - to cheat) and 诈唬 (zhàhǔ - to bluff). Avoid using this term in formal situations as it may seem disrespectful.
HSK Study Tips
While 诈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other terms about honesty and deception, such as 骗 (piàn - to deceive) and 欺骗 (qīpiàn - to trick). Focus on recognizing its usage in phrases and understanding its nuances in conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of deception is often linked to traditional stories and proverbs that caution against being overly trusting. The idea of a 'trickster' character is prevalent in folklore, reflecting societal views on honesty.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诈 with 诈欺 (zhàqī) thinking they can use them interchangeably, but 诈 is the broader term for deceit while 诈欺 specifically refers to cheating. Always ensure you're using the appropriate term based on the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诈
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Grammar Patterns of 诈
诈 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
关键问题是4名被告是否存在欺____行为。
The key issue was whether the four defendants acted dishonestly.
Many manufacturers have policies to protect themselves against blackmailers.
Cultural Notes for 诈
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of deception is often linked to traditional stories and proverbs that caution against being overly trusting. The idea of a 'trickster' character is prevalent in folklore, reflecting societal views on honesty.
Word Family of 诈
Words Containing This Character20
诈骗zhàpiànto defraud詐騙
欺诈qīzhàto cheat欺詐
敲诈qiāozhàto rip off敲詐
诈zhàto cheat詐
敲诈勒索extortion and blackmail (idiom)敲詐勒索
诈骗罪fraud詐騙罪
狡诈craft狡詐
奸诈jiānzhàtreachery奸詐
讹诈ézhàto blackmail訛詐
尔虞我诈each tries to outwit the other爾虞我詐
诈欺fraud詐欺
诡诈sly詭詐
诈死to feign death詐死
诈取to swindle詐取
兵不厌诈all's fair in war兵不厭詐
诈唬to bluff詐唬
诈降feigned surrender詐降
险诈sinister and deceitful險詐
机诈deceitful機詐
欺诈者deceiver欺詐者
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 诈骗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 诈
Common phrases include 诈欺 (zhàqī - to cheat) and 诈唬 (zhàhǔ - to bluff).
No, 诈 is generally considered informal and is best avoided in formal writing.
No, 诈 has negative connotations and is primarily associated with deceitful actions.
