Chinese word

虚伪

Pronunciation

Pinyinxū wěi

Meaning

  • adjectivehypocritical

Example

她的笑容很虚伪。tā de xiào róng hěn xū wěi

Her smile is very fake.

Illustration for 虚伪 (hypocritical)

More examples

她的道歉像一场虚伪的表演。tā de dào qiàn xiàng yì cháng xū wěi de biáo yǎn

Her apology was like a hypocritical performance.

Core concept

A polished outer display hides a different inner attitude or purpose.

Common phrases

  • 虚伪的表演xū wěi de biáo yǎn

    hypocritical performance

  • 虚伪的承诺xū wěi de chéng nuò

    hypocritical promise

  • 虚伪的外表xū wěi de wài biǎo

    hypocritical appearance

Similar words

伪善wěi shàn: A display of goodness or kindness that is not genuine and is meant to appear virtuous.
做作zuò zuò: An unnatural, affected manner that seems carefully acted rather than natural.
假惺惺jiǎ xīng xīng: A deliberately showy display of kindness or sympathy that lacks genuine feeling.

Definition in Chinese

指言行不真诚，常带有表里不一或刻意伪装的含义。zhǐ yán xíng bù zhēn chéng cháng dài yǒu biáo lǐ bù yí huò kè yì wěi zhuāng de hán yì

Word origin

虚伪 (xūwěi, "hypocritical") is built from 虚 (xū, "empty") + 伪 (wěi, "false"), linking the word to an outer display that lacks sincerity.

Usage tips

  • English hypocritical often suggests moral double standards, while 虚伪 (xūwěi, "hypocritical") can also describe a manner, tone, or social act that feels insincere.

Other meanings

  • insincereadjective
  • fakeadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 虚伪性xū wěi xìnghypocrisynoun
  • 虚伪地xū wěi dìhypocriticallyadverb

Word lists with this word