Japanese Conversation · Level 49
90 words
Japanese word
インチキ
Pronunciation
Romajiinchiki
Meaning
- na-adjectivebogus
Example
その話はインチキです。so no hanashi wa i n chi ki de su
That story is bogus.
More examples
専門家に確認すれば、インチキな情報かどうか判断できます。sen mon ka ni kaku nin su re ba i n chi ki na jō hō ka dō ka han dan de ki ma su
You can determine whether the information is bogus by checking with an expert.
Core concept
Describes something that looks legitimate or convincing but is actually made to mislead, cheat, or falsely pass as genuine.
Common phrases
インチキな情報i n chi ki na jō hō
bogus information
インチキな商品i n chi ki na shō hin
a fake product
Similar words
いかさまikasama: Describes a trick, claim, or deal that deceives people for an unfair advantage.
でたらめdetarame: Describes information or statements that lack a factual basis and cannot be trusted.
詐欺的sagiteki: Describes conduct or material that uses deception to obtain money or another benefit.
Definition in Japanese
正当でない方法で人をだますさま。また、本物らしく見せかけた偽物やごまかし。sei tō de na i hō hō de hito o da ma su sa ma ma ta hon mono ra shi ku mi se ka ke ta nise mono ya go ma ka shi
Word origin
The origin of インチキ (inchiki) is uncertain, but early slang uses インチキ師 (inchiki shi, "a cheat") for a person who deceives others; the word later extends to deceptive things and methods.
Usage tips
- In conversational Japanese, インチキ (inchiki) is a blunt label, while the pattern インチキ臭い (inchiki kusai) expresses suspicion without asserting that something is completely fake.
Other meanings
- cheatingnoun
- deceptionnoun
- fraudnoun
Opposites
- 正当seitōlegitimatena-adjective
Related words
- インチキっぽいinchikippoifishyi-adjective
- インチキ臭いinchikikusaishadyi-adjective