花招 (huāzhāo): trick; ruse; ploy

Measure Word

一个花招 gè

Meanings

1 trick; ruse; ploy
2 showy move (in martial arts or performance)
3 gimmick

Characters

Examples

别跟我耍花招！

Bié gēn wǒ shuǎhuāzhāo!

Don't try to pull tricks on me!

他又在玩什么花招？

Tā yòu zài wán shénme huāzhāo?

What kind of trick is he playing now?

这些都是骗人的花招。

Zhèxiē dōu shì piànrén de huāzhāo.

These are all tricks to deceive people.

Tips

memory

花 (flower) suggests something showy and decorative. 招 (move/trick) is a fighting move. A 'flowery move' = a flashy trick with no real substance.

usage

耍花招 (shuǎ huāzhāo) and 玩花招 (wán huāzhāo) both mean 'to play tricks.' 耍 is slightly more colloquial and dismissive.

Stroke Order

花 huā

招 zhāo

Related Words

耍花招 shuǎhuāzhāo #10,757

to play tricks / to use cunning tactics

招 zhāo HSK 6 #1,618

to recruit; to attract; to beckon / a move; a trick; a method / to confess (under interrogation)

花样 huāyàng HSK 7-9 #4,663

pattern / variety / trick

花钱 huāqián #4,763

to spend money

花花 huāhuā #5,369

nickname for a cat or dog (often spotted/patchy) / playful; flashy

花费 huāfèi HSK 6 #5,429

to spend; to expend / expense; expenditure; cost

花园 huāyuán HSK 2 #2,994

garden; park

花生 huāshēng HSK 6 #5,693

peanut; groundnut

花 huā HSK 1 #386

flower / to spend (money, time)

招数 zhāoshù HSK 7-9 #11,767

move / trick / tactic / device