wèizào: 伪造 - To Forge, Counterfeit, Fabricate

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• Summary: Learn the Chinese verb 伪造 (wèizào), meaning “to forge” or “counterfeit.” This HSK 6 term is used in serious, often legal, contexts for creating fake documents, money, data, or signatures with the intent to deceive. It's a critical word for understanding news reports, legal discussions, and the consequences of fraud in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wěi zào
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To forge, counterfeit, or fabricate something with the intent to deceive.
• In a Nutshell: 伪造 (wèizào) is not your everyday “faking.” You don't “wèizào a smile.” This is a strong, formal, and serious word reserved for criminal or highly unethical acts. Think of making a fake passport, printing counterfeit money, or falsifying a signature on a legal contract. It always carries a heavy, negative connotation of illegality and deliberate deception.

• 伪 (wěi): This character is composed of 人 (rén) meaning “person” and 为 (wéi) meaning “to do” or “to act.” Together, they suggest a person's action that is “false,” “fake,” or not genuine. It points to a deliberate human act of fakeness.
• 造 (zào): This character means “to make,” “to create,” or “to build.” It's the same character found in 制造 (zhìzào), meaning “to manufacture.” It implies a process of construction.

When combined, 伪造 (wèizào) literally means “to fake-make” or “to falsely create,” which perfectly captures the English concept of “to forge” or “to counterfeit.”

In Chinese culture, with its long history of imperial bureaucracy, the authenticity of official seals, documents, and currency has always been paramount. 伪造 (wèizào), therefore, represents a serious transgression against order and authority. A key cultural comparison is between 伪造 (wèizào) and the English word “fake.” While an American might “fake an injury” or buy “fake leather,” the word can be relatively light. 伪造 is never light. It implies a level of criminality and seriousness that “fake” does not always carry. For example, the widespread phenomenon of knock-off goods in China is often described colloquially with the term 山寨 (shānzhài). While a counterfeit Louis Vuitton bag is technically a 伪造品 (wěizàopǐn) (counterfeit product), people are more likely to call it 山寨 (shānzhài) in casual conversation. 伪造 is the word you'd see in the police report about the factory that produced them. This distinction between the formal, legal term and the colloquial, cultural term is crucial.

伪造 (wèizào) is primarily used in formal contexts. You will encounter it most often in:

• News and Legal Reports: Discussing crimes like forgery, counterfeiting, and fraud.
• Business and Finance: Referring to the falsification of financial statements, contracts, or credentials.
• Technology: Describing the creation of fake digital certificates, fabricated data, or “deepfakes” (a more specific term is 深度伪造 - shēndù wěizào).

Its connotation is universally negative and serious. It is not used in casual or informal conversation unless discussing a serious crime.

• Example 1:
• 他因伪造公司文件而被解雇了。
• Pinyin: Tā yīn wěizào gōngsī wénjiàn ér bèi jiěgù le.
• English: He was fired for forging company documents.
• Analysis: This is a classic example of using 伪造 in a formal, business context regarding a serious offense.
• Example 2:
• 警方破获了一个伪造货币的犯罪团伙。
• Pinyin: Jǐngfāng pòhuò le yí ge wěizào huòbì de fànzuì tuánhuǒ.
• English: The police busted a criminal gang that was counterfeiting currency.
• Analysis: Here, 伪造 is used for its most common meaning: counterfeiting money. This is language you'd see in a news report.
• Example 3:
• 在法庭上，伪造证据是重罪。
• Pinyin: Zài fǎtíng shàng, wěizào zhèngjù shì zhòngzuì.
• English: In a court of law, falsifying evidence is a serious crime.
• Analysis: This shows the legal gravity associated with the term.
• Example 4:
• 他的博士文凭是伪造的。
• Pinyin: Tā de bóshì wénpíng shì wěizào de.
• English: His doctoral diploma is forged.
• Analysis: The structure “是…的” indicates that the diploma has the quality of being “forged.”
• Example 5:
• 你不能为了请病假而伪造医生证明。
• Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng wèile qǐng bìngjià ér wěizào yīshēng zhèngmíng.
• English: You can't forge a doctor's note in order to take sick leave.
• Analysis: A practical, real-world example of a less severe, but still serious, act of forgery.
• Example 6:
• 那个艺术家太出名了，所以市场上有很多伪造的他的作品。
• Pinyin: Nàge yìshùjiā tài chūmíng le, suǒyǐ shìchǎng shàng yǒu hěn duō wěizào de tā de zuòpǐn.
• English: That artist is so famous that there are many forged copies of his work on the market.
• Analysis: This example shows 伪造 being used to describe counterfeit art.
• Example 7:
• 这家公司通过伪造账目来逃税。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī tōngguò wěizào zhàngmù lái táoshuì.
• English: This company evades taxes by falsifying its account books.
• Analysis: A common white-collar crime context for the term.
• Example 8:
• 他试图用一本伪造的护照通过海关。
• Pinyin: Tā shìtú yòng yī běn wěizào de hùzhào tōngguò hǎiguān.
• English: He attempted to pass through customs using a forged passport.
• Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 伪造 for official identity documents.
• Example 9:
• 选举舞弊指控包括伪造选票。
• Pinyin: Xuǎnjǔ wǔbì zhǐkòng bāokuò wěizào xuǎnpiào.
• English: The election fraud allegations include the forging of ballots.
• Analysis: Shows the term's use in a political context.
• Example 10:
• 这封邮件看起来像是银行发的，但实际上是伪造的。
• Pinyin: Zhè fēng yóujiàn kànqǐlái xiàngshì yínháng fā de, dàn shíjìshang shì wěizào de.
• English: This email looks like it's from the bank, but it's actually forged (a phishing email).
• Analysis: A modern, digital context for 伪造, referring to faking digital communication.

• “Forge” vs. “Fake”: This is the most common pitfall for learners. 伪造 (wèizào) means “to forge” in a criminal sense. It is NOT used for “faking” an emotion or state.
  • Incorrect: 我伪造了我的笑容。(Wǒ wěizào le wǒ de xiàoróng.)
  • Correct: 我假装在笑。(Wǒ jiǎzhuāng zài xiào.) - “I pretended to be smiling.” Use 假装 (jiǎzhuāng) for pretending.
• 伪造 (wèizào) vs. 捏造 (niēzào): Both can be translated as “fabricate,” but their usage differs.
  • 伪造 (wèizào) is used for tangible or verifiable things: documents, money, data, art.
  • 捏造 (niēzào) is used for intangible things: stories, rumors, excuses, accusations. “He fabricated a story” would use 捏造, not 伪造.
• 伪造 (wèizào) vs. 模仿 (mófǎng):
  • 伪造 (wèizào) implies illegal deception.
  • 模仿 (mófǎng) means “to imitate” or “to emulate,” and can be neutral or positive. A student might 模仿 a master's calligraphy to learn. An artist who 伪造 a master's work is trying to sell it as the real thing.

• 造假 (zàojiǎ) - Lit. “to make fake.” A very common, slightly less formal synonym for 伪造.
• 假冒 (jiǎmào) - To pass something fake off as genuine. Often used specifically for counterfeit brands and products.
• 山寨 (shānzhài) - A colloquial, cultural term for “knock-off” products. Less of a legal term and more of a social phenomenon.
• 捏造 (niēzào) - To fabricate or concoct, but used for stories, rumors, or lies, not physical objects.
• 欺骗 (qīpiàn) - A broad term for “to deceive” or “to cheat.” 伪造 is a specific method of 欺骗.
• 模仿 (mófǎng) - To imitate or emulate. The key difference is the lack of intent to deceive for personal gain.
• 赝品 (yànpǐn) - (Noun) A counterfeit, forgery, or fake, especially in the context of art or antiques.
• 伪君子 (wěijūnzǐ) - A hypocrite (lit. “fake gentleman”). Shows the character 伪 used to mean “false” in a moral sense.
• 虚假 (xūjiǎ) - (Adjective) False, fake, sham. Used to describe information, promises, or advertising. (e.g., 虚假信息 - false information).