以假乱真

以假亂真
yǐjiǎ-luànzhēn
idiom #33,296

Meanings

  1. 1 to pass off the fake as genuine
  2. 2 to mix the fake with the real so skillfully that they can't be told apart
  3. 3 a convincing forgery

Examples

HSK 7-9
Zhè fú fǎngzhì de huàzuò jīhū kěyǐ yǐjiǎ-luànzhēn.
This reproduction painting can almost pass for the original.
HSK 7-9
AI Shēngchéng de túpiàn yuèláiyuè bīzhēn, shènzhì néng yǐjiǎ-luànzhēn.
AI-generated images are getting so lifelike they can even pass for real.
HSK 7-9
Zhèxiē jiǎ wénwù zuò de yǐjiǎ-luànzhēn, piàn guò le bùshǎo shōucángjiā.
These fake antiques are made convincingly enough to fool many collectors.

Tips

history
From Yan Zhitui's Northern-Qi 《颜氏家训》: 馀分闰位,谓以伪乱真耳 - originally 以伪乱真 in the classical source; the character was later substituted with in modern usage.
usage
Can be pejorative (fraud, counterfeits) or mildly admiring (high-quality reproductions, special effects, skilled imitations). Context usually makes the valence clear.

Stroke Order

jiǎ
luàn
zhēn