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