Meaning
to deceive; to cheat; to trick; to mislead; to delude
Nuance & Usage
欺く means to deliberately mislead or deceive someone — creating a false impression. 人を欺く (to deceive people), 欺かれる (to be deceived), 目を欺く (to deceive the eye — optical illusion), 欺く行為 (an act of deception) are typical uses. Unlike 騙す (damasu — to trick/con, more casual), 欺く has a more literary and serious tone, often implying a deep betrayal of trust. 自分を欺く (to deceive oneself, self-deception) is a powerful introspective use. It appears frequently in literature, news, and formal discourse.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 騙す (damasu) in formal contexts where 欺く is more appropriate. While both mean to deceive, 欺く is more literary and often implies a deeper, more intentional, and morally serious betrayal. 欺かれる (to be deceived) is passive. 欺瞞 (giman — deception, fraud) is a related formal noun. 人の目を欺く (to deceive people's eyes — to create a false appearance) is an important idiom. 欺く is rarely used in casual conversation — 騙す is more natural there.
Example Sentences
美しい言葉で人を欺くのは、最も卑劣な行為の一つだ。
うつくしいことばでひとをあざむくのは、もっともひれつなこういのひとつだ。
Deceiving people with beautiful words is one of the most despicable acts.
見かけで人を判断すると、表面の印象に欺かれることがある。
みかけでひとをはんだんすると、ひょうめんのいんしょうにあざむかれることがある。
If you judge people by appearances, you may be deceived by surface impressions.
詐欺師は被害者の信頼を巧みに欺いて、多額の金銭を騙し取った。
さぎしはひがいしゃのしんらいをたくみにあざむいて、たがくのきんせんをだましとった。
The fraudster skillfully deceived the victim's trust and swindled a large sum of money.
Quick Quiz
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