📖 Meaning
This idiom describes something that appears correct or true at first glance but is actually incorrect or false upon closer examination. It is commonly used to criticize arguments, claims, or appearances that are deceptively plausible yet fundamentally flawed.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase traces back to two classical texts. In the Zhuangzi (庄子·山木), Zhuangzi discusses living between being useful and useless, noting that such a middle path merely seems right but is not truly so. The Mencius (孟子·尽心下) quotes Confucius saying he despises things that are '似而非'—seemingly correct but actually wrong—comparing them to weeds that masquerade as real seedlings and threaten to ruin the crop. Together these sources established the idiom as a warning against deceptive resemblance to truth.
💡 Example Usage
这篇文章的论点似是而非，经不起仔细推敲。
The argument in this article sounds plausible but is actually flawed, and cannot withstand careful scrutiny.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 似是而非
- Pinyin: sì shì ér fēi
- Literal Translation: seems, right, but, wrong
- Category: Logic
- Characters: 4