Keywords: 骗子, pianzi, Chinese for scammer, Chinese con artist, swindler in Chinese, Chinese liar, how to say fraud in Chinese, what is a pianzi, Chinese scams, Chinese deception
Summary: Discover the meaning of 骗子 (piànzi), the essential Chinese word for a scammer, con artist, or swindler. This page breaks down its characters, cultural significance, and practical usage in modern China. Learn how to identify and talk about deception, from phone scams to everyday cons, with practical examples and comparisons to English to avoid common mistakes.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): piànzi
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: A person who deceives others for personal gain; a swindler, con artist, or scammer.
In a Nutshell:骗子 (piànzi) is a strong, negative term for someone who intentionally tricks or defrauds others, usually for money. It's not just a casual “liar.” A 骗子 is a professional deceiver, the kind of person you'd associate with phone scams, counterfeit goods, or elaborate cons. The word carries a heavy sense of moral condemnation for someone who preys on the trust of others.
Character Breakdown
骗 (piàn): This character means “to deceive, to cheat, to swindle.” It's composed of the radical 马 (mǎ), meaning “horse,” and the phonetic component 扁 (biǎn). A folk etymology suggests the image of someone quickly mounting a horse to get away after a trick, highlighting the element of escape after the deception.
子 (zi): This is a very common noun suffix in Chinese. It has no specific meaning here other than to turn the action (verb) of “cheating” into a person (noun) who performs that action.
Together, 骗 (to cheat) + 子 (person suffix) literally creates “a cheater-person,” or more naturally, a “swindler.”
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, which places a high value on social trust (信任, xìnrèn) and interpersonal relationships, being labeled a 骗子 is a severe accusation. It signifies a person who deliberately breaks social harmony for selfish gain, making them an outcast.
With China's rapid economic and technological development, the concept of the 骗子 has evolved. While it once might have referred to a street hustler or a merchant selling fake antiques, today it's most commonly associated with modern scams, especially 电信诈骗 (diànxìn zhàpiàn), or “telecom fraud.” These sophisticated phone and internet scams are a major societal concern in China, frequently discussed in news and public service announcements.
Comparison to Western Culture: While “scammer” or “con artist” are direct translations, 骗子 feels more personal and carries a heavier moral weight. An English speaker might call a politician who breaks a promise a “liar,” but a Chinese speaker might escalate to calling them a 政治骗子 (zhèngzhì piànzi), or “political swindler,” implying a much deeper and more calculated deception of the public. A simple liar tells untruths, but a 骗子 constructs a false reality to exploit you.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Direct Accusation: It's used to directly and harshly label someone who has cheated you. For example, “你这个骗子！” (Nǐ zhège piànzi!) - “You're a scammer!”
Warnings: People frequently use it to warn friends and family. For example, “小心，他可能是个骗子。” (Xiǎoxīn, tā kěnéng shì ge piànzi.) - “Be careful, he might be a scammer.”
Social Media and News: The term is rampant online and in the news when discussing fraud. You'll see headlines about catching a 骗子团伙 (piànzi tuánhuǒ), or “scammer ring,” or stories of people losing money to a 网络骗子 (wǎngluò piànzi), an “internet scammer.”
Connotation: The connotation of 骗子 is exclusively and strongly negative. There is no situation where it could be considered neutral or a joke. It's a serious insult and accusation.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他是个骗子，别相信他的话。
Pinyin: Tā shì ge piànzi, bié xiāngxìn tā de huà.
English: He's a swindler, don't believe a word he says.
Analysis: This is a straightforward statement and warning. It uses 骗子 to completely discredit someone's character and words.
Example 2:
我昨天接到了一个骗子的电话，他想骗我的银行卡信息。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān jiēdào le yí ge piànzi de diànhuà, tā xiǎng piàn wǒ de yínhángkǎ xìnxī.
English: I received a call from a scammer yesterday; he wanted to trick me into giving him my bank card information.
Analysis: This example demonstrates the common context of modern phone scams. The person on the phone is immediately identified as a 骗子.
Example 3:
那个自称是慈善机构代表的人，结果是个骗子。
Pinyin: Nàge zìchēng shì císhàn jīgòu dàibiǎo de rén, jiéguǒ shì ge piànzi.
English: That person who claimed to be a representative from a charity turned out to be a con artist.
Analysis: This shows how a 骗子 often operates under a false identity or pretense to gain trust before committing fraud.
Example 4:
警察终于抓住了那个骗子团伙。
Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhōngyú zhuāzhù le nàge piànzi tuánhuǒ.
English: The police finally caught that ring of scammers.
Analysis: This sentence uses the common collocation 骗子团伙 (piànzi tuánhuǒ), meaning “scammer gang/ring,” highlighting the organized nature of some fraud.
Example 5:
你太天真了，怎么会相信这种骗子的鬼话？
Pinyin: Nǐ tài tiānzhēn le, zěnme huì xiāngxìn zhè zhǒng piànzi de guǐhuà?
English: You're too naive, how could you believe the rubbish from this kind of scammer?
Analysis: 鬼话 (guǐhuà), literally “ghost talk,” means “lies” or “nonsense.” It's often used to describe the deceitful things a 骗子 says.
Example 6:
他把所有的积蓄都给了一个网络骗子。
Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de jīxù dōu gěi le yí ge wǎngluò piànzi.
English: He gave all his savings to an internet scammer.
Analysis: This highlights the severe financial consequences of encountering a 骗子. 网络骗子 (wǎngluò piànzi) specifies the domain of the scam.
English: That politician is called a “political swindler” by the public.
Analysis: This demonstrates a more abstract or figurative use of 骗子, applied to politics to imply large-scale, public deception rather than just financial fraud.
Example 10:
识别骗子的常用伎俩是防止上当的第一步。
Pinyin: Shíbié piànzi de chángyòng jìliǎng shì fángzhǐ shàngdàng de dì yī bù.
English: Identifying a scammer's common tricks is the first step to prevent being fooled.
Analysis: A more formal sentence, suitable for a public service announcement or article about fraud prevention. It links the 骗子 with their 伎俩 (jìliǎng), or “tricks/schemes.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
“骗子 (piànzi)” vs. a simple “liar”: This is the most critical distinction for learners. A 骗子 is a type of liar, but not all liars are 骗子. A 骗子 deceives for a significant, often material, gain. A person who tells a “white lie” or fibs is not a 骗子.
Incorrect Usage:My friend is a 骗子 because he said he was sick but I saw him at the movies.
Why it's wrong: This is an overstatement and incorrect usage. The friend told a lie (说谎, shuōhuǎng), but he didn't run a scam or defraud you. The correct way to express this would be, “他骗了我 (tā piàn le wǒ - he deceived me)” or “他说谎了 (tā shuōhuǎng le - he lied)”. Calling him a 骗子 would be overly aggressive and imply he's a fundamentally dishonest person with criminal intent.
Related Terms and Concepts
骗 (piàn) - The verb form: “to cheat,” “to deceive,” “to trick.” A 骗子 is someone who 骗s people.
诈骗 (zhàpiàn) - A more formal term for “fraud” (noun) or “to swindle” (verb), often used in legal and news contexts.
欺骗 (qīpiàn) - A verb meaning “to deceive” or “to fool.” It's broader than 骗 and can refer to emotional deception as well as financial scams.
上当 (shàngdàng) - A verb meaning “to be fooled” or “to fall for a scam.” (e.g., 我上当了! - Wǒ shàngdàng le! - I've been had!)
受骗 (shòupiàn) - A verb meaning “to be deceived” or “to be scammed.” It's very similar to 上当.
谎言 (huǎngyán) - A noun for “a lie” or “a falsehood.”
说谎 (shuōhuǎng) - The common verb for “to tell a lie.”
假 (jiǎ) - The adjective for “fake,” “false,” or “counterfeit.” A 骗子 might sell you 假货 (jiǎ huò - fake goods).
电信诈骗 (diànxìn zhàpiàn) - A highly relevant modern term for “telecom fraud” or “phone/internet scams.”