📖 Meaning
To dress up as a demon or monster to deceive people. Metaphorically, it means to deliberately act in a bizarre or mysterious manner to confuse or frighten others. It describes behavior that is intentionally theatrical and deceptive.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in the Qing dynasty work 'West Lake Stories' (西湖佳话) by Gu Wu Mo Lang Zi, in the chapter on Bai Juyi's governance. The author criticizes poets who, unable to produce anything original, resort to bizarre and pretentious writing. It is also cited by Liu E in 'The Travels of Lao Can' (老残游记), where charlatans invoke ghosts and spirits to deceive the ignorant.
💡 Example Usage
那江湖术士装妖作怪，骗取了不少百姓的钱财。
The charlatan put on a bizarre act to deceive people and swindled many commoners out of their money.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 装妖作怪
- Pinyin: zhuāng yāo zuò guài
- Literal Translation: pretend to be, demon, do, strange
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4