Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== jiǎmào: 假冒 - Counterfeit, Fake, Impersonate ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** jiamào, jia mao, 假冒, counterfeit in Chinese, fake Chinese products, impersonate in Chinese, Chinese word for fake, knock-off, forgery, 假 vs 假冒, 山寨, shanzhai, Chinese scams * **Summary:** Learn the crucial Chinese verb **假冒 (jiǎmào)**, which means to **counterfeit**, **fake**, or **impersonate**. This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, breaking down the characters 假 (jiǎ) and 冒 (mào), and delves into its cultural significance related to fake goods and scams in China. With practical examples and clear explanations, you'll understand how to use **假冒** correctly and distinguish it from similar terms like `假 (jiǎ)` and `山寨 (shānzhài)`. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiǎmào * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To deliberately and illegally pass off something or someone as genuine; to counterfeit or impersonate. * **In a Nutshell:** **假冒 (jiǎmào)** is a strong, negative term that goes beyond simply being "fake." It describes an active deception. Think of someone creating knock-off Louis Vuitton bags and selling them as the real thing, or a scammer pretending to be a police officer. The word carries a sense of illegality and fraud, focusing on the act of counterfeiting or impersonation for gain. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **假 (jiǎ):** This character means "fake," "false," or "sham." It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and a phonetic component (叚) on the right. You can think of it as something that is not what it appears to be, something "borrowed" or artificial. * **冒 (mào):** This character can mean "to risk" or "to emit," but a more helpful origin story here is "to cover." The character's structure can be seen as a hat (冂) covering the eyes (目). In `假冒`, it carries the meaning of "to assume an identity" or "to pass off as." * Together, **假冒 (jiǎmào)** literally means "to falsely (假) cover or assume (冒)." The characters combine to create a vivid picture of someone using a false identity or appearance to cover their true nature, for the purpose of deception. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The term **假冒 (jiǎmào)** is deeply embedded in modern Chinese economic and social life, primarily due to the widespread issue of counterfeit goods. For decades, China was known for its `山寨 (shānzhài)` or "knock-off" culture. While `山寨` can sometimes refer to clever imitation or even grassroots innovation, **假冒** refers to the dark side: illegal, deceptive counterfeiting. A `山寨` phone might look like an iPhone but have a different brand name (e.g., "aPhone"), whereas a **假冒** iPhone would have the Apple logo and be sold as genuine. This has led to a strong cultural and governmental push for consumer protection and intellectual property rights. The government frequently runs campaigns to `打击假冒伪劣产品 (dǎjī jiǎmào wěiliè chǎnpǐn)`—"crack down on fake and inferior products." Consequently, Chinese consumers have become highly savvy about identifying `正品 (zhèngpǐn)`—"authentic goods"—and often look for official verification codes and authorized dealers. Compared to the Western concept of "counterfeiting," **假冒** in China is perhaps a more visible and discussed social issue due to its scale. It's not just about luxury goods; it can involve anything from medicine and baby formula to car parts, making it a serious public safety concern. The term is therefore used frequently in news, public service announcements, and legal contexts. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **假冒 (jiǎmào)** is a formal and serious word. You'll encounter it most often in specific, negative contexts. * **Legal and News Contexts:** This is the most common usage. News reports, legal warnings, and company statements use **假冒** to describe counterfeit products, fraudulent companies, and illegal activities. The four-character phrase `假冒伪劣 (jiǎmào wěiliè)`, meaning "counterfeit and shoddy," is extremely common. * **Impersonation Scams:** The term is used to describe scams where a person pretends to be someone in a position of authority or trust, such as `假冒警察 (jiǎmào jǐngchá)` (impersonating police) or `假冒客服 (jiǎmào kèfú)` (impersonating customer service) to trick people out of money. * **As a Noun Modifier:** It can be used directly before a noun to mean "counterfeit" or "fake," for example, `假冒产品 (jiǎmào chǎnpǐn)` (counterfeit product) or `假冒网站 (jiǎmào wǎngzhàn)` (fake/phishing website). Its connotation is always negative. Using it implies a serious accusation of fraud or illegal activity. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这家工厂因 **假冒** 名牌运动鞋而被关闭了。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng yīn **jiǎmào** míngpái yùndòngxié ér bèi guānbì le. * English: This factory was shut down for counterfeiting brand-name sports shoes. * Analysis: This is a classic example of **假冒** used in a legal/news context, referring to the counterfeiting of brand-name products. * **Example 2:** * 他 **假冒** 警察，骗走了老人所有的积蓄。 * Pinyin: Tā **jiǎmào** jǐngchá, piàn zǒu le lǎorén suǒyǒu de jīxù. * English: He impersonated a police officer and swindled the elderly person out of all their savings. * Analysis: Here, **假冒** refers to impersonation, a common type of fraud. The verb is followed directly by the role being impersonated. * **Example 3:** * 消费者应该学会如何辨别 **假冒** 产品。 * Pinyin: Xiāofèizhě yīnggāi xuéhuì rúhé biànbié **jiǎmào** chǎnpǐn. * English: Consumers should learn how to identify counterfeit products. * Analysis: **假冒** is used here as a modifier for `产品 (chǎnpǐn)`. This structure is very common. * **Example 4:** * 请警惕那些 **假冒** 银行名义发送的短信。 * Pinyin: Qǐng jǐngtì nàxiē **jiǎmào** yínháng míngyì fāsòng de duǎnxìn. * English: Please be wary of text messages sent under the guise of the bank. * Analysis: This sentence highlights the deceptive nature of **假冒**. It means to falsely use a name or identity (`名义`). * **Example 5:** * 政府正在采取严厉措施打击 **假冒** 伪劣商品。 * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài cǎiqǔ yánlì cuòshī dǎjī **jiǎmào** wěiliè shāngpǐn. * English: The government is taking strict measures to crack down on counterfeit and shoddy goods. * Analysis: This uses the extremely common set phrase `假冒伪劣 (jiǎmào wěiliè)`. It's a formal term you'll see in official announcements. * **Example 6:** * 在合同上 **假冒** 他人签名是严重的违法行为。 * Pinyin: Zài hétong shàng **jiǎmào** tārén qiānmíng shì yánzhòng de wéifǎ xíngwéi. * English: Forging someone else's signature on a contract is a serious illegal act. * Analysis: Here, **假冒** is used for forgery of a signature, expanding its meaning from products and people to documents. * **Example 7:** * 这个所谓的“官方”网站其实是一个 **假冒** 网站。 * Pinyin: Zhège suǒwèi de "guānfāng" wǎngzhàn qíshí shì yí ge **jiǎmào** wǎngzhàn. * English: This so-called "official" website is actually a phishing/fake site. * Analysis: This is a common warning about online safety, where `假冒网站` refers to a site designed to look real to steal information. * **Example 8:** * 他被指控 **假冒** 慈善机构的名义进行筹款。 * Pinyin: Tā bèi zhǐkòng **jiǎmào** císhàn jīgòu de míngyì jìnxíng chóukuǎn. * English: He was accused of fundraising by fraudulently claiming to be a charitable organization. * Analysis: This shows **假冒** in the context of organizational fraud, not just individual impersonation. * **Example 9:** * 这瓶酒看起来很真，但我怀疑是 **假冒** 的。 * Pinyin: Zhè píng jiǔ kàn qǐlái hěn zhēn, dàn wǒ huáiyí shì **jiǎmào** de. * English: This bottle of wine looks very real, but I suspect it's a counterfeit. * Analysis: A conversational use, showing how an ordinary person might express suspicion about a product's authenticity. * **Example 10:** * 任何 **假冒** 行为都会受到法律的严惩。 * Pinyin: Rènhé **jiǎmào** xíngwéi dōu huì shòudào fǎlǜ de yánchéng. * English: Any act of counterfeiting/impersonation will be severely punished by law. * Analysis: Here, `假冒行为 (jiǎmào xíngwéi)` means "an act of counterfeiting/impersonation," treating **假冒** as a concept. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **假冒 (jiǎmào) vs. 假 (jiǎ):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. * `假 (jiǎ)` is a simple adjective meaning "fake" or "false." It describes a state. Use it for things that are inherently not real but not necessarily illegal or deceptive in a fraudulent way. Examples: `假花 (jiǎhuā)` - fake flowers; `假发 (jiǎfà)` - a wig; `假笑 (jiǎxiào)` - a fake smile. * `假冒 (jiǎmào)` is a verb describing the **action** of counterfeiting or impersonating. It implies intent to deceive for gain. * **Incorrect:** `他的微笑是假冒的。` (His smile is counterfeited.) * **Correct:** `他的微笑是假的。` (His smile is fake.) * **Correct:** `他假冒名牌手表来卖。` (He counterfeits brand-name watches to sell.) * **假冒 (jiǎmào) vs. 山寨 (shānzhài):** * `假冒` is outright fraud. It's an illegal product trying to pass as genuine (e.g., has the real logo). * `山寨 (shānzhài)` is a "knock-off" or "copycat." It imitates a famous product but often has a slightly altered logo or name. While legally gray, it isn't always trying to be an exact, deceptive replica. `山寨` can sometimes have a neutral or even playful connotation, whereas `假冒` is always negative and serious. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[假]] (jiǎ) - Fake, false. The adjective that forms the base of `假冒`. * [[山寨]] (shānzhài) - Knock-off, copycat; a related but culturally distinct concept. * [[冒充]] (màochōng) - To pretend to be, to pass oneself off as. A close synonym for the "impersonation" meaning of `假冒`. * [[伪造]] (wěizào) - To forge, to fabricate. More specific than `假冒`, often used for documents, data, or currency (e.g., `伪造护照` - forge a passport). * [[仿冒]] (fǎngmào) - To imitate, to counterfeit. A very close synonym to `假冒`, sometimes emphasizing the act of imitation (`仿`) more. * [[正品]] (zhèngpǐn) - Authentic/genuine product. The direct antonym of a `假冒` product. * [[打假]] (dǎjià) - To crack down on fakes. A common term for anti-counterfeiting actions by governments or companies. * [[骗子]] (piànzi) - Swindler, con artist. A person who is likely to engage in `假冒` activities. * [[伪劣]] (wěiliè) - Fake and shoddy/inferior. Almost always seen with `假冒` in the set phrase `假冒伪劣`. * [[商标]] (shāngbiāo) - Trademark. The legal mark that is often illegally copied in `假冒` products.