fan2 sik1粉飾粉饰
Jyutpingfan2 sik1
Yalefán sīk
Definition
To whitewash; to cover up the bad parts of something and make it look good.
writtenothercommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the act of making something look better or more acceptable than it actually is, often with a negative connotation of deception. It is frequently used in political or corporate contexts to describe attempts to hide flaws or failures. Unlike simple lying, it implies a deliberate effort to create a facade of normalcy or perfection.
Examples
They want to whitewash the situation and act as if nothing happened.
This report is just whitewashing the data; it is deceiving people.
Related words
Common phrases
to pretend everything is fine
to put up a front
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of painting or decorating a wall, which would use terms like 油漆 or 裝修. Using it in a casual, physical sense will sound unnatural or overly formal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
