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

HSK 2

他又在玩什么花招？

Tā yòu zài wán shénme huāzhāo?

What kind of trick is he playing now?

HSK 7-9

别跟我耍花招！

Bié gēn wǒ shuǎ huāzhāo!

Don't try to pull tricks on me!

HSK 7-9

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 and 玩花招 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