欺

Phono-semantic compound:

欠 (하품 흠) — semantic element, conveying ideas of lack, deficiency, error, wrongdoing.

其 (그 기) — phonetic element, giving the sound 기 and sometimes the semantic nuance of “taking lightly.”

Thus 欺 originally depicts a wrongful or deficient act against another, which developed into the meaning “to deceive.”

Deception / trickery:

欺瞞 (기만) — 남을 속임; deception; trickery; to deceive

欺騙 (기편) — 기만하여 속임; to cheat; to swindle

欺詐 (기사) — 속여 사기침; fraud; deceit

Contempt / disrespect:

欺侮 (기모) — 업신여기고 깔봄; to insult; to treat with contempt

欺視 (기시) — 얕잡아봄; to look down on; to scorn

欺慢 (기만) — 거만하고 업신여김; arrogant contempt

Classical or literary forms:

自欺 (자기) — 스스로를 속임; self-deception

欺天 (기천) — 하늘(도리)을 속임; acting against Heaven; deception of cosmic order

欺上 (기상) — 윗사람을 속임; to deceive one’s superior

These forms are frequent in classical texts, Korean historical writings, law, and ethics.

In Confucian ethics:

欺 represents moral failure, dishonesty, and lack of integrity.

Opposed to 信 (trust), 誠 (sincerity), and 忠 (loyalty).

Mencius and later thinkers frequently use 欺 to illustrate the breakdown of moral order.

《孟子·離婁下》 (Mencius)

「欺人者不治也。」

“One who deceives others cannot rightly govern” — Moral condemnation of deception.

《韓非子·外儲說左上》 (Han Feizi)

「民可以欺上。」

“The people can deceive their superiors.”

《後漢書·陳蕃傳》 (Book of the Later Han Dynasty)

「不敢欺君。」

“I dare not deceive my lord.”

《史記·廉頗藺相如列傳》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

「臣敢欺大王乎？」

“How could your servant dare deceive the great king?”

《太平御覽·欺誑部》 (Taiping Yulan, Deception Section)

「欺者，詐也。」

“欺 means to cheat or defraud.”

These citations confirm both the deceit and contempt meanings.