Chinese word

山寨

Pronunciation

Pinyinshān zhài

Meaning

  • nounknockoff

Example

这些都是山寨，别买。zhè xiē dōu shì shān zhài bié mǎi

These are all knockoffs. Don't buy them.

Illustration for 山寨 (knockoff)

More examples

这个市场上有很多山寨商品，质量无法保证。zhè ge shì chǎng shàng yǒu hěn duō shān zhài shāng pǐn zhì liàng wú fǎ bǎo zhèng

There are many knockoff products in this market, and their quality cannot be guaranteed.

Core concept

An unofficial stand-in that borrows a recognized product's design or identity and enters the market at a lower cost.

Common phrases

  • 山寨商品shān zhài shāng pǐn

    knockoff products

  • 山寨手机shān zhài shǒu jī

    knockoff phones

  • 山寨店shān zhài diàn

    knockoff shops

Similar words

假货jiǎ huò: A product that is not genuine and belongs to the broad category of fake goods.
假冒品jiǎ mào pǐn: A counterfeit product that uses another person's brand or trademark without permission.
仿制品fǎng zhì pǐn: A product made as an imitation of another product's form or function.
赝品yàn pǐn: A false version of a valuable artwork, antique, or cultural object.

Definition in Chinese

指未经授权模仿他人品牌或设计、以低成本生产并在市场上流通的仿制品或假货，口语中也可泛指粗制滥造的代用品。zhǐ wèi jīng shòu quán mó fǎng tā rén pǐn pái huò shè jì yǐ dī chéng běn shēng chǎn bìng zài shì chǎng shàng liú tōng de fǎng zhì pǐn huò jiǎ huò kóu yǔ zhōng yě kě fàn zhǐ cū zhì làn zào de dài yòng pǐn

Word origin

山 (shān, "mountain") + 寨 (zhài, "stronghold") gives the image of a separate base outside official control, which suits the word's modern use for unauthorized imitations.

Usage tips

  • Unlike an ordinary bargain, this label suggests copied branding or design, so it is not a good description of an honestly generic product.

Other meanings

  • pirated copynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 山寨货shān zhài huòknockoff goodsnoun
  • 山寨版shān zhài bǎnimitation versionnoun
  • 山寨化shān zhài huàbecome a knockoffverb

Word lists with this word