Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== sāhuǎng: 撒谎 - To Lie, To Tell a Lie ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** sāhuǎng, 撒谎, lie in Chinese, how to say lie in Chinese, tell a lie Chinese, sa huang, sahuang, Chinese word for lying, deceive Chinese, piàn, huǎngyán, nói dối tiếng trung * **Summary:** Learn how to say "to lie" in Chinese with the essential verb **撒谎 (sāhuǎng)**. This guide provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance. Discover how to use **撒谎** in everyday conversation with 10 practical example sentences, understand its nuances compared to related terms like **骗 (piàn)**, and see how it connects to cultural concepts like **面子 (miànzi)**. This is your comprehensive resource for mastering the concept of lying in Mandarin Chinese. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** sāhuǎng (sā huǎng) * **Part of Speech:** Verb (specifically, a verb-object compound) * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** To tell a lie; to not tell the truth. * **In a Nutshell:** **撒谎 (sāhuǎng)** is the most common and direct way to talk about the act of telling a lie in Chinese. It's a verb-object phrase, meaning it literally translates to "to cast a lie." It can describe anything from a small, harmless "white lie" to a serious, deliberate falsehood. If you want to accuse someone of not telling the truth or admit to it yourself, this is the go-to term. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **撒 (sā):** This character means "to scatter," "to cast," or "to sprinkle." Think of a farmer scattering seeds in a field. It implies a deliberate action of spreading something around. * **谎 (huǎng):** This character means "a lie" or "falsehood." It's composed of two parts: * **言 (yán) radical (讠):** On the left, this means "speech" or "words." This immediately tells you the character is related to something spoken. * **荒 (huāng):** On the right, this character means "barren," "desolate," or "wild." It provides the sound for `huǎng` and also a key part of the meaning. * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **撒谎 (sāhuǎng)** creates a vivid image: "to scatter barren/empty words." It’s the act of spreading speech that has no truth to it, like planting seeds on barren ground where nothing can grow. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== Lying, like in most cultures, is viewed negatively in China. Honesty (**诚实 - chéngshí**) is a highly praised virtue. However, the application of this value can be nuanced by the concepts of social harmony and "face" (**面子 - miànzi**). A key cultural comparison is the "white lie." In Western cultures, a white lie is often a small falsehood told to avoid hurting someone's feelings. This exists in China too, but it's often more deeply connected to preserving someone's **面子 (miànzi)**, or social dignity. Directly criticizing someone's work, for example, could cause them to "lose face." In such a situation, a less direct or even slightly misleading positive comment might be seen as more socially graceful than a blunt, "honest" critique. This is not seen as malicious deception, but rather as social tact. Therefore, while directly accusing someone of **撒谎 (sāhuǎng)** is a serious charge implying a moral failing, understanding the motivation behind an untruth is key. Sometimes, it's less about deceiving and more about navigating complex social relationships and preserving harmony. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **撒谎 (sāhuǎng)** is a standard, widely used term appropriate for most informal and semi-formal situations. * **In Conversation:** It's frequently used among friends, family, and colleagues. A parent might scold a child, "你是不是在撒谎？" (Are you lying?). Friends might jokingly accuse each other of exaggerating a story by saying, "你别撒谎了!" (Stop lying!). * **Connotation:** The word itself is negative. Accusing someone of `撒谎` is a direct confrontation. However, the severity depends entirely on the tone and context. It can range from a playful jab to a serious accusation of dishonesty. * **As a Verb-Object:** Because `谎` is the object, you can't add another object after it. * **Incorrect:** 他撒谎我。 (Tā sāhuǎng wǒ.) * **Correct:** 他对我撒谎。 (Tā duì wǒ sāhuǎng.) - "He lied **to me**." ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 你不要对我**撒谎**，我知道真相。 * Pinyin: Nǐ búyào duì wǒ **sāhuǎng**, wǒ zhīdào zhēnxiàng. * English: Don't lie to me, I know the truth. * Analysis: A direct and confrontational use. The structure `对 (duì) + person + 撒谎` is the correct way to say "lie to someone." * **Example 2:** * 小孩子不应该**撒谎**。 * Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi bù yīnggāi **sāhuǎng**. * English: Children should not tell lies. * Analysis: A general statement about morality. Here, `撒谎` functions as a general action that is being prohibited. * **Example 3:** * 他为了不让她担心，**撒**了一个善意的**谎**。 * Pinyin: Tā wèile bù ràng tā dānxīn, **sā** le yí ge shànyì de **huǎng**. * English: In order not to make her worry, he told a white lie. * Analysis: This example shows the flexibility of the verb-object structure. `善意的谎 (shànyì de huǎng)` means "a well-intentioned lie" or "white lie." The verb `撒` is separated from its object `谎`. * **Example 4:** * 我最讨厌别人对我**撒谎**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn biérén duì wǒ **sāhuǎng**. * English: I hate it when other people lie to me. * Analysis: Expressing a personal feeling or value. `讨厌 (tǎoyàn)` means "to hate" or "to find annoying." * **Example 5:** * 你是不是又**撒谎**了？快说实话！ * Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì yòu **sāhuǎng** le? Kuài shuō shíhuà! * English: Did you lie again? Tell the truth now! * Analysis: A typical sentence a parent or authority figure might say to a child. `是不是 (shì bu shì)` forms a yes/no question. `实话 (shíhuà)` means "truth." * **Example 6:** * 他**撒谎**说他生病了，其实是去玩了。 * Pinyin: Tā **sāhuǎng** shuō tā shēngbìng le, qíshí shì qù wán le. * English: He lied and said he was sick, but he actually went out to play. * Analysis: This shows how to specify the content of the lie using `说 (shuō)`. The structure is `撒谎 + 说 + [the lie]`. * **Example 7:** * 承认吧，你从一开始就在**撒谎**。 * Pinyin: Chéngrèn ba, nǐ cóng yī kāishǐ jiù zài **sāhuǎng**. * English: Just admit it, you've been lying from the very beginning. * Analysis: `在 (zài)` is used here to indicate an ongoing action, emphasizing that the lying has been continuous. * **Example 8:** * 为什么有的人**撒谎**时脸不红心不跳？ * Pinyin: Wèishéme yǒu de rén **sāhuǎng** shí liǎn bù hóng xīn bù tiào? * English: Why do some people not blush or have their heart race when they lie? * Analysis: This uses a common idiom `脸不红心不跳 (liǎn bù hóng xīn bù tiào)` which literally means "face not red, heart not jumping" to describe a very skilled or shameless liar. * **Example 9:** * 我向你保证，我绝对没有**撒谎**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎozhèng, wǒ juéduì méiyǒu **sāhuǎng**. * English: I promise you, I absolutely did not lie. * Analysis: A strong denial. `保证 (bǎozhèng)` means "to guarantee" or "to promise." `绝对 (juéduì)` means "absolutely." * **Example 10:** * 与其**撒谎**来掩盖错误，不如坦白承认。 * Pinyin: Yǔqí **sāhuǎng** lái yǎngài cuòwù, bùrú tǎnbái chéngrèn. * English: Rather than lying to cover up a mistake, it's better to confess frankly. * Analysis: This uses the `与其 A, 不如 B` (yǔqí A, bùrú B) structure, meaning "rather than A, it's better to do B." It contrasts lying with confessing (`坦白 - tǎnbái`). ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`撒谎 (sāhuǎng)` vs. `骗 (piàn)`:** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. * **`撒谎 (sāhuǎng)`:** Refers specifically to the act of **telling an untruth with words**. It's about speech. * **`骗 (piàn)`:** Means "to deceive," "to trick," or "to swindle." It's a broader term that can involve actions, not just words. * **Example:** You can `骗钱 (piàn qián)` (swindle money) or `骗人 (piàn rén)` (deceive people), but you cannot *`撒谎钱`*. If you lie to get money, the act of speaking is `撒谎`, but the overall act of deception is `骗`. "He lied to me" is `他对我说谎 (tā duì wǒ sāhuǎng)`. "He tricked me" is `他骗了我 (tā piàn le wǒ)`. * **Incorrect Object Usage:** * A common mistake is to place the person being lied to directly after `撒谎` as if it were a simple transitive verb. * **Incorrect:** 他撒谎我。 (Tā sāhuǎng wǒ.) * **Correct:** 他**对**我撒谎。 (Tā duì wǒ sāhuǎng.) * **Correct:** 他**骗**了我。 (Tā piàn le wǒ.) - Note that `骗` *can* take a direct object. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[说谎]] (shuōhuǎng) - A very close synonym for `撒谎`, literally "to speak a lie." The two are often interchangeable in daily use. * [[谎言]] (huǎngyán) - The noun for "a lie" or "falsehood." It's slightly more formal than just using `谎`. Example: `这是一个谎言` (This is a lie). * [[骗]] (piàn) - To deceive, trick, or swindle. Broader than `撒谎`, as it includes deception through actions. * [[欺骗]] (qīpiàn) - A more formal and serious two-character verb for "to deceive" or "to cheat." Often used in legal or official contexts. * [[吹牛]] (chuīniú) - To brag, to boast, to "shoot the bull." This is a type of untruth, but it's about exaggeration and self-aggrandizement, not usually malicious deception. * [[坦白]] (tǎnbái) - (Antonym) To confess, to be frank or candid. * [[诚实]] (chéngshí) - (Antonym/Related Value) The quality of being honest. * [[实话]] (shíhuà) - The truth, true words. As in `说实话` (shuō shíhuà), "to speak the truth." * [[面子]] (miànzi) - "Face," or social standing/dignity. Preserving `面子` can sometimes be a motivation for telling a white lie.