打着…的旗号
under the banner of; using … as a front
Structure
主语 打着 好听的名义 的旗号 ， 真正的目的
What it means
“Under the banner of”: doing something under a fine-sounding name that hides the real aim. It is critical (贬义): the speaker exposes a pretext.
How it is built
Subject + 打着 + fine-sounding name + 的旗号，+ real aim: 有些机构打着“国学教育”的旗号，收取高额学费 (some firms charge huge fees under the banner of traditional learning).
When to use it
Common in news and commentary. For a neutral or legitimate “in the name of”, use 以…的名义 (以公司的名义). 打着…的幌子 (huǎng zi) is a stronger variant.
Watch out
✗ 他打着学习的旗号去图书馆学习。 It is only for a pretext, and the second clause shows what is really going on: ✓ 他打着学习的旗号，其实是去玩手机。
Examples
骗子打着“在家兼职、轻松赚钱”的旗号，先让你做几单点赞之类的小任务。
Under the banner of “easy money from a part-time job at home”, the scammers first get you to do a few small tasks such as liking posts.
有些培训机构打着“国学教育”的旗号，向家长收取高额学费。
Some tutoring firms charge parents huge fees under the banner of “traditional Chinese learning”.
他打着为你好的旗号，其实是想让你什么都听他的。
He says it is all for your own good, but what he really wants is for you to do whatever he says.
Learn this in Lesson 68 · HSK 6: 反诈 (Phone and online scams)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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