詐

It refers to intentional falsehood, trickery, or fraud, especially deception carried out through speech, promises, or claims.

A phono-semantic compound:

言 (speech, words) — semantic element, indicates deception through language

乍 (sa, “sudden; momentary”) — phonetic element, provides sound and nuance

The phonetic element 乍 conveys the sense of suddenness or abrupt appearance, suggesting falsehood that arises suddenly, without stability or truth.

Thus, 詐 originally referred to false speech produced quickly to mislead others.

Over time, this developed into the general meaning “to deceive, to cheat, to defraud.”

사기치다 (詐欺하다) — to commit fraud

속임수 (詐術) — deception; trickery

거짓말하다 (詐稱하다) — to falsely claim

기만하다 (欺詐) — to deceive; to delude

위장하다 (詐裝) — to disguise; to feign

Related characters:

欺 — to deceive (broader; not limited to speech)

騙 — to cheat (common colloquial verb)

偽 — false; counterfeit (focuses on falseness)

誑 — to lie (verbal deception)

奸 — treachery (moral corruption)

詐 emphasizes intentional verbal deception, not accidental error.

In legal contexts, it implies criminal or unethical deceit.

Classical texts frequently contrast 詐 with 誠 (sincerity).