lung6 heoi1 zok3 gaa2弄虛作假弄虚作假
Jyutpinglung6 heoi1 zok3 gaa2
Yaleluhng hēui jok gá
Definition
To practice fraud, resort to deception, or employ trickery to deceive others.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a strong sense of moral condemnation. While it is understood in spoken Cantonese, it is much more common in news reports, legal contexts, or serious discussions about integrity rather than casual conversation. In everyday speech, people are far more likely to use verbs like 呃 or 呃人 to describe the same behavior.
Examples
He really dislikes cheating when doing business.
Related words
Common phrases
using deceitful methods
strictly punish fraudulent behavior
Common mistake
Learners often use this in casual settings where it sounds overly dramatic or stiff. It is not a phrase you would use to describe a friend cheating at a board game or a minor white lie.
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.
