李鬼

Lǐguǐ
proper noun

Meanings

  1. 1 Li Gui (Water Margin character who impersonates the hero Li Kui)
  2. 2 a fake / impostor / counterfeit (modern figurative use)

About Li Gui

文学人物 fictional character

A highwayman in 水浒传 who robs travellers by posing as the outlaw hero 李逵, until he meets the real one. His name now means any fake or knock-off.

Examples

HSK 5
Zhè jiā diàn shì zhēnde háishì Lǐguǐ, wǒ bù gǎn quèdìng.
I can't be sure whether this shop is the real thing or an impostor.
HSK 7-9
Wǎngshàng bùshǎo dǎ zhe míngpái qíhào de Lǐguǐ.
There are plenty of fakes online masquerading as designer brands.

Tips

history
Caught by the real 李逵, he lies about a ninety-year-old mother and is sent off with ten taels of silver, then plots to poison the man who spared him and is killed. The stock phrase 真假李逵, 'the real and fake Li Kui', means telling an original from its imitation.
mistakes
Don't mix up 李鬼 (Lǐ Guǐ, the impostor) with 李逵 (Lǐ Kuí, the genuine Black Whirlwind hero). The character 鬼 (guǐ, ghost/devil) is the giveaway - that's the fraudster.

Stroke Order

李 lǐ
鬼 guǐ