搞鬼

• Pinyin: gǎo guǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 搞 = 手 + 高 (hand + high — to do, handle, colloquial); 鬼 = 田 + 厶 + 儿 (ghost, spirit — deception, mischief)

Meaning

To engage in underhand tricks; to act deceptively or surreptitiously; to cause mischief or sabotage behind the scenes.

A colloquial and accusatory expression. Often used when someone suspects foul play, manipulation, or covert interference. Common in both everyday disputes (谁在搞鬼) and investigative or political contexts. Carries a suspicious or accusatory tone.

Examples

1. 竞标结果出乎所有人意料，业内普遍怀疑有人在背后搞鬼，相关部门已介入调查。 The bidding result surprised everyone, and many in the industry suspect someone was pulling strings behind the scenes; the relevant authorities have already launched an investigation.
2. 系统反复出现莫名错误，技术人员仔细排查后发现，是内部账号遭到入侵，有人蓄意搞鬼。 The system kept producing inexplicable errors. After careful checks, the technicians found that an internal account had been compromised and someone was deliberately messing with things.
3. 他一直觉得这件事进展不顺，直到后来才得知是竞争对手暗中搞鬼，故意从中阻挠。 He always felt the matter wasn’t going smoothly, and only later learned that a competitor had been sabotaging it in secret, deliberately obstructing the process.

Usage Guide

Context: suspicion, intrigue, colloquial, investigation

Tone: accusatory

Do Say

• 这批货物在运输途中离奇损毁，仓库主管强烈怀疑是竞争对手派人在中途搞鬼。(These goods were mysteriously damaged in transit — the warehouse manager strongly suspects a competitor sent someone to sabotage the shipment en route.)
• 内部审计发现账目存在多处异常，审计小组断定有人蓄意搞鬼，已将线索移交纪检部门。(The internal audit found multiple anomalies in the accounts — the audit team concluded that someone had been engaged in deliberate misconduct and referred the leads to the disciplinary department.)

Don't Say

• 这台机器在搞鬼 — 搞鬼 requires a human agent acting with intent; use 出故障 or 有问题 for malfunctioning equipment

Origin & History

搞 (to do/engage in, colloquial) + 鬼 (ghost/devil — tricks, deception)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal