杜撰

dùzhuàn

verb #23,332

Meanings

1 to fabricate
2 to make up
3 to invent (a story or claim)
4 unfounded

Characters

surname Du / to block / to make up

to compose / to write / to author

Examples

HSK 5

这个故事完全是杜撰的，没有任何依据。

Zhège gùshi wánquán shì dùzhuàn de, méiyǒu rènhé yījù.

This story is completely fabricated, with no basis at all.

HSK 7-9

他杜撰了一个借口来解释迟到。

Tā dùzhuàn le yígè jièkǒu lái jiěshì chídào.

He made up an excuse to explain his lateness.

Tips

history

杜撰 is said to derive from 杜默 (Du Mo), a Northern Song poet who invented his own unorthodox style of verse. People joked that his compositions (撰) were 'Du-style' fabrications, and the term stuck for anything made up without basis.

Stroke Order

杜 dù

撰 zhuàn