以假乱真
yǐ jiǎ luàn zhēn
a fake so good it passes for the real thing
Character by character
以yǐ
with
with
假jiǎ
false
false
乱luàn
confuse
confuse
真zhēn
true
true
Example
这幅仿制的古画几乎可以以假乱真，连专家都差点儿认错。
This copy of an old painting can almost pass for the original; even the experts nearly mistook it.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said of forgeries, copies and special effects: 几乎能以假乱真, 足以以假乱真. It can admire the craft (of a 仿真 flower or a film set) or warn of fraud, so the tone depends on the context; compare 鱼目混珠, which is always an accusation.
Learn this in Lesson 186 · HSK 7–9: 从山寨到原创 (From knock-offs to originals)
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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