操纵
cāozòng
To rig something, in the sense of manipulating it dishonestly, is 操纵 (cāozòng) in Chinese.
操纵 is used both for physical control, such as operating a machine and for abstract manipulation, such as rigging an election or a market.
Meaning: to manipulate something dishonestly (verb)
Which one should you use?
操纵 can simply mean neutral control. In the context of elections or markets it carries a strong sense of dishonest or illicit manipulation, close to the English verb to rig. The noun rig is a different word. The equipment used to drill oil wells is 鑽機 / 钻机, and a drilling rig platform can also be called 钻台. A rig for lifting heavy objects, such as a crane, is 起重机.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
操纵 is pronounced cāozòng in pinyin, with a high level tone on the first syllable and a falling tone on the second.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 操纵 for an oil rig or a lifting rig. It is only the verb. For drilling equipment use 钻机 and for a crane use 起重机.
Did you know?
- In Chinese internet slang, a 'rigged' competition is often called a 剧本 (jùběn), which means 'script'. This implies the event was not a real contest but a choreographed performance.
- While 操纵 means 'to rig', the word 操 originally referred to holding a tool or a weapon in the hand, reflecting a physical grip before it evolved into the idea of mental manipulation.
- While 操纵 (cāozòng) means to operate or rig, a person using a smartphone or computer usually uses 操作 (cāozuò). Using 操纵 for a phone can make it sound like the user is manipulating the device in a sinister way.
Examples in context
- 请把起重机运到施工现场，好吗？Could you please bring the rig to the construction site?
- 他试图操纵选举结果。Tā shìtú cāozòng xuǎnjǔ jiéguǒ.He tried to rig the election results.
- 这种比赛显然被操纵了。Zhè zhǒng bǐsài xiǎnrán bèi cāozòng le.This kind of competition was clearly rigged.
Example conversation
浩然 and 佳怡 are discussing a suspicious game show.
- 浩然 Haoran你觉得那个节目被操纵了吗？Nǐ juéde nàge jiémù bèi cāozòng le ma?Do you think that show was rigged?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我看也是，感觉很不自然。Wǒ kàn yě shì, gǎnjué hěn bù zìrán.I think so too, it felt very unnatural.
- 浩然 Haoran他们肯定是在操纵观众的情绪。Tāmen kěndìng shì zài cāozòng guānzhòng de qíngxù.They are definitely manipulating the audience's emotions.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这种做法太不公平了。Zhè zhǒng zuòfǎ tài bù gōngpíng le.This kind of practice is too unfair.
