幌 (huǎng): shop sign; banner used as a sign

Meanings

酒店挂出了一面新幌子。

Jiǔdiàn guà chū le yí miàn xīn huǎngzi.

The wine shop hung out a new sign.

他打着慈善的幌子骗人。

Tā dǎ zhe císhàn de huǎngzi piànrén.

He used charity as a cover to deceive people.

usage

Usually 幌子, originally the cloth sign hung outside a shop. Figuratively 打幌子 means to use something as a false front or pretext.

radical

巾 jīn

cloth; towel

The cloth radical fits the original meaning: a shop sign was a piece of fabric hung out front to attract customers.

phonetic

晃 huǎng

to sway; dazzle

Supplies the reading huǎng directly; its sense of swaying also suits a cloth banner fluttering in the wind.

幌 huǎng