jyu4 muk6 wan6 zyu1魚目混珠鱼目混珠
Jyutpingjyu4 muk6 wan6 zyu1
Yaleyùh muhk wahn jyū
Definition
To pass off a fake or sham as the genuine article.
writtenother
How it's used
This idiom is a formal chengyu that carries a strong sense of disapproval or accusation. It is used to describe deliberate deception where someone tries to hide a fake among authentic items to cheat others. While it appears in written contexts, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese when someone is caught in a lie or a scam.
Examples
He took out fake goods to pass them off as genuine, it is really outrageous.
Related words
Common phrases
attempt to pass off the sham as the genuine
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being fake, but it specifically implies the act of mixing the fake with the real to deceive. It is not used to describe something that is simply low quality or a poor imitation on its own.
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.
