Catfishing
Meaning: Pretending to be someone else online, especially on dating apps, using fake photos or a false identity.
A catfish creates a completely fabricated online persona to lure people into relationships or conversations. This can involve stolen photos, fake names, and invented life stories. The deception can last days or even years. The term is now used broadly for any significant online misrepresentation.
Examples
- I found out my online boyfriend was catfishing me — he was using someone else's photos. 我发现我的网恋男友一直在骗我——他用的是别人的照片。Descubrí que mi novio de internet me estaba haciendo catfishing — estaba usando las fotos de otra persona.ネットで知り合った彼氏にキャットフィッシングされてたことが分かった——他人の写真を使っていたのだ。온라인 남자친구가 나를 캣피싱하고 있었다는 걸 알았어——다른 사람 사진을 쓰고 있었거든.
- You should always video chat before meeting someone to make sure you're not getting catfished. 见面之前一定要先视频通话,确认对方没有冒充别人。Siempre deberías hacer una videollamada antes de quedar con alguien para asegurarte de que no te están engañando.会う前に必ずビデオ通話した方がいいよ、騙されてないか確認するために。만나기 전에 꼭 영상통화를 해야 해, 캣피싱 당하고 있는 건 아닌지 확인하려면.
- She catfished him for six months before he figured out she was a completely different person. 她骗了他六个月,直到他发现她根本就是另一个人。Le hizo catfishing durante seis meses antes de que él descubriera que era una persona completamente diferente.彼女は6ヶ月間彼を騙し続け、全くの別人だと気づかれるまでなりすましていた。그녀는 6개월간 그를 속였고, 결국 완전히 다른 사람이라는 게 밝혀졌어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: online dating, social media, internet safety
Tone: cautionary, accusatory
✓ Do Say
- I think this profile might be a catfish.我怀疑这个账号可能是假的。Creo que este perfil podría ser un catfish.このプロフィール、なりすましかもしれない。이 프로필 캣피시일 수도 있어.
- She got catfished by someone on Tinder.她在Tinder上被人骗了。Le hicieron catfishing a través de alguien en Tinder.彼女はTinderで誰かに騙された。그녀는 틴더에서 누군가에게 캣피싱 당했어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use for minor photo editing or using flattering angles — catfishing implies a fundamentally fake identity不要用于轻微的修图或用好看的角度拍照——catfishing指的是根本性的身份造假No lo uses para retoques menores de fotos o ángulos favorecedores — el catfishing implica una identidad fundamentalmente falsa写真の軽い加工や写りのいい角度を選ぶことには使わない——キャットフィッシングは根本的に偽の身分を作ることを意味する가벼운 사진 보정이나 좋은 각도 사진에는 사용하지 않는다 — 캣피싱은 근본적으로 가짜 신원을 의미한다
Origin & History
Popularized by the 2010 documentary film 'Catfish' and the subsequent MTV reality show 'Catfish: The TV Show' (2012). The filmmaker's wife told a story about catfish being shipped with cod to keep the cod active, a metaphor for people who keep others on their toes.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s onwards
Generation: Millennials, Gen Z
Social background: Universal
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