虚偽

• Reading: きょぎ
• Romaji: kyogi
• Kanji breakdown: 虚 (kyo) — empty, hollow, false; 偽 (gi/nise) — false, counterfeit, deceive
• Pronunciation: /kʲo.ɡi/

Meaning

Falsehood; deception; a deliberate lie or fabrication. Used in formal and legal contexts to describe intentionally false statements.

A formal noun with significant legal weight, appearing in compounds such as 虚偽申告 (false declaration) and 虚偽陳述 (false statement). Stronger and more consequential than 嘘 (lie), it implies deliberate, consequential deception in official, legal, or contractual settings. Also used philosophically to contrast with 真実 (truth) in epistemological discussion.

Examples

1. 証人が虚偽の証言をしたとして告発された。 The witness was charged with giving false testimony.
2. 虚偽の申告は法的な制裁を受ける可能性がある。 Filing a false declaration may result in legal sanctions.
3. 報道機関は虚偽の情報を拡散しないよう、事実確認の義務を負う。 News organizations have a duty to verify facts so as not to spread false information.

Usage Guide

Context: law, journalism, ethics

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 虚 (empty, hollow, false) and 偽 (counterfeit, deceive, false). Both components carry the sense of falseness, reinforcing the idea of a deliberate fabrication with no truthful substance.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional