弄虚作假

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: nòng xū zuò jiǎ
• English Translation: Resorting to deception (falsification)
• Idiom Composition: 「弄」（To handle or manipulate (often with a negative connotation of "playing" with facts)）＋「虚」（Falsehood or emptiness; things that lack substance）＋「作」（To create or manufacture）＋「假」（Fake or counterfeit; not genuine）
• Meaning: To employ dishonest methods, conceal the truth, or create a false appearance to deceive others. It is a derogatory term often used to criticize fraud in official reports, data manipulation, or product counterfeiting.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「弄虚作假」 contains the following nuances:

• Intentional Deception: This term implies a deliberate act of malice or self-interest rather than an accidental mistake. It suggests a calculated effort to manufacture a lie.
• Public and Institutional Context: While it can apply to individuals, it is more frequently used to describe organized fraud, such as data tampering, credential falsification, or the production of counterfeit goods, which have broader social impacts.

3. Usage

「弄虚作假」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Business and Professional Misconduct: Used to criticize the manipulation of numbers in accounting reports, production data, or quality inspections.
  • Example:「公司严禁在财务报表上弄虚作假，一旦发现将立即开除。」
    （The company strictly prohibits falsifying financial statements; anyone caught doing so will be dismissed immediately.）
• Academic and Educational Integrity: Refers to dishonest acts in fields where integrity is paramount, such as fabricating research data or cheating on exams.
  • Example:「学术研究必须严谨，绝不能为了发表论文而弄虚作假。」
    （Academic research must be rigorous; one must never resort to deception by fabricating data just to get a paper published.）
• Public Service and Politics: Used in contexts criticizing false reporting to make performance look better or engaging in empty formalism.
  • Example:「上级领导强调要深入基层，杜绝一切弄虚作假的形式主义。」
    （The higher leadership emphasized the need to go deep into the grassroots level and eliminate all forms of formalism and deceitful practices.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这家工厂因在原料上弄虚作假，被市场监管部门重罚。
   （The factory was heavily fined by market regulators for falsifying its raw material records.）
2. 做人要诚实，靠弄虚作假取得的成绩是长久不了的。
   （One should be honest; achievements gained through fraudulent means will not last.）
3. 他在简历里弄虚作假，谎称自己有留学经历。
   （He falsified his credentials on his resume, lying about having experience studying abroad.）
4. 消费者有权知道真相，商家不应在广告宣传中弄虚作假。
   （Consumers have the right to know the truth; businesses should not practice fraud in their advertising.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Social Context: In Chinese society, while the slogan 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) or "seeking truth from facts" is highly valued as a core virtue, the pressure to meet quotas or performance targets sometimes leads to 弄虚作假 (nòng xū zuò jiǎ), which is frequently targeted in government anti-corruption and quality control campaigns.
• Register and Tone: This is a formal and serious expression. It is commonly found in news reports, official documents, or stern reprimands. It is not a term used for lighthearted joking among friends.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 招摇撞骗 (zhāo yáo zhuàng piàn): To swindle by posing as someone with authority or status.
  • 欺上瞒下 (qī shàng mán xià): To deceive those above and hide the truth from those below; typical of institutional cover-ups.
  • 投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo): To seize an opportunity for one's own advantage, often by clever but unethical means.link
  • 沽名钓誉 (gū míng diào yù): To seek fame and praise by dishonest means.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì): To seek truth from facts; to be practical and realistic.link
  • 光明正大 (guāng míng zhèng dà): To be open and aboveboard; having nothing to hide.
  • 脚踏实地 (jiǎo tà shí dì): To be down-to-earth and practical in one's work or attitude.link

6. Summary

弄虚作假 (nòng xū zuò jiǎ) refers to the act of distorting facts to create a false impression. It is a strong critical term used in business, politics, and academia to condemn "foul play" such as data tampering or resume fraud. It stands in direct opposition to the virtue of 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì), which means seeking truth from facts.