假

Phono-semantic compound:

人 – semantic element, suggesting human-related actions (borrowing, pretending);

叚 – phonetic element, lending the sound “가.”

Originally, 假 meant “to borrow” or “to temporarily assume.” Over time, it broadened to:

“false, fake” (e.g. 假名 – assumed name);

“temporary” (e.g. 假期 – vacation/temporary leave).

Different from 僞 (위): 僞 implies “to deceive” or “to falsify,” whereas 假 simply means “false” or “temporary” without the sense of intentional deception.

In Japanese, the simplified form 仮 is used (also historically an alternate form of 反).