Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 詭計 / 诡计 | guǐjì |
| 騙局 / 骗局 | piànjú |
Chinese uses different words to describe a scam based on whether you are talking about a clever trick, a structured fraudulent scheme or the act of fraud itself. 騙局 / 骗局 refers to a fraudulent setup or a scam designed to deceive people, often within a financial or social context. For describing the actual crime or the act of swindling, such as phone or internet scams, 詐騙 / 诈骗 is the most common term used in modern contexts. You can also use 欺詐 / 欺诈 to denote fraudulent behavior or practices.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 騙局 / 骗局 is composed of piàn (to cheat or deceive) and jú (a game, setup or scheme).
Which one should you use?
While all these terms relate to deception, they differ in nuance. 詭計 / 诡计 refers more to a clever trick, ruse or a deceptive scheme used to outwit someone, rather than a large-scale financial fraud. In contrast, 騙局 / 骗局 specifically refers to a fraudulent scheme or a deceitful plot. 詐騙 / 诈骗 is specifically used for fraudulent activities or swindling.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The term 詐騙 / 诈骗 is versatile and can function as both a noun (fraud) and a verb (to scam) in many contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
guǐjì
Did you know?
- Chinese has a specific term for a type of 'romance scam' called 殺豬盤, which literally translates to 'pig-killing plate'. It describes the process of 'fattening up' a victim with affection before slaughtering their finances.
- The term 詭計 / 诡计 is often used in historical dramas and literature to describe the military strategies of legendary generals, making it a word for 'clever ruse' rather than just a crime.
- While 詐騙 / 诈骗 is the legal term for fraud, people in casual conversation often use the word 坑 (to dig a hole) to say they were scammed or tricked.
Examples in context
- 这是一个骗局This is a scam.
- 他被诈骗了很多钱He was scammed out of a lot of money.
- 这个公司被指控欺诈This company is accused of fraud.
- 别相信他，他经常骗人Don't trust him, he often scams people.
- 这个网站是一个骗局This website is a scam.
- 他被别人忽悠了很多钱He was scammed out of a lot of money by someone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scam” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
