欺诈

• Pinyin: qī zhà
• Hanzi breakdown: 欺 = 其 + 欠 (phonetic); 诈 = 讠(speech) + 乍 (sudden/startling, phonetic)

Meaning

Fraud; to defraud. Deliberate deception for illegal financial or personal gain, especially in legal and commercial contexts.

More serious and legally loaded than 欺骗. Specifically implies criminal or systematic fraud. Common in legal documents, news reports, and business compliance contexts. Carries strong negative connotations.

Examples

1. 该公司因欺诈消费者被监管机构处以高额罚款。 The company was fined heavily by regulators for defrauding consumers.
2. 网络欺诈案件近年来持续上升，市民需提高防范意识。 Online fraud cases have continued to rise in recent years, and the public needs to be more vigilant.
3. 他因合同欺诈罪被法院判处三年有期徒刑。 He was sentenced to three years in prison for contract fraud.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, business, finance

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 警方已对这起投资欺诈案立案展开调查。(The police have filed a case and launched an investigation into this investment fraud incident.)
• 签署合同前务必核实对方身份，防范欺诈风险。(Before signing a contract, be sure to verify the other party's identity to guard against fraud.)

Don't Say

• 朋友之间的小谎是欺诈 — use 欺骗 for everyday deception between individuals; 欺诈 implies criminal or systematic fraud

Origin & History

欺 (deceive) + 诈 (cheat/fraud) — deliberate deceptive scheming

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal