欺く

• Reading: あざむく
• Romaji: azamuku
• Kanji breakdown: 欺 (gi/azamu) — deceive, cheat, delude
• Pronunciation: /a.za.mɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To deceive; to delude; to trick. Deliberately misleading someone through lies or false appearances.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with a literary or formal tone. Stronger and more deliberate than 騙す, it suggests calculated deception. Common in written language, news, and formal speech. The passive form 欺かれる is frequently used.

Examples

1. 彼は巧妙な手口で多くの人を欺いた。 He deceived many people with a clever scheme.
2. 見た目に欺かれてはいけない。 Don't be fooled by appearances.
3. 信頼していた友人に欺かれた衝撃は大きかった。 The shock of being deceived by a trusted friend was enormous.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, news, legal

Tone: serious

Origin & History

The kanji 欺 combines 其 (that) and 欠 (lack, yawn), suggesting a person whose open mouth hides their true intent. Used in Classical Chinese and Japanese literature to describe cunning deception.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal