faan2 gaan3 gai3反間計反间计
Jyutpingfaan2 gaan3 gai3
Yalefáan gaan gai
Definition
The stratagem of sowing discord; feeding false information to an enemy spy to disrupt their plans.
neutralother
How it's used
Originating from the classic Thirty-Six Stratagems, this term describes a specific psychological warfare tactic where you feed false information to an enemy spy to manipulate their leadership. While it sounds formal, it is frequently used in casual conversation to describe any situation where someone is being manipulated or played against their own allies. It carries a sense of cunning and calculated betrayal.
Examples
They used a counter-espionage tactic to cause chaos within the enemy's ranks.
Related words
Common phrases
to execute a counter-espionage tactic
to fall for a counter-espionage tactic
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simple lying or cheating. It specifically requires the involvement of a third party or a spy who is misled into passing on false information, rather than just deceiving someone directly.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
