When someone is trying to 作弊 (zuòbì), it means they are trying to cheat. This word is used when people are being dishonest to gain an unfair advantage. For example, if you copy answers during a test, that's 作弊. Or if a student looks at their phone during an exam, they are 作弊.
When you hear the word "作弊" (zuòbì), it means to cheat or to practice fraud. It's often used in situations like school exams. For example, if a student copies answers from another student, they are "作弊."
It can also be used in games or competitions when someone tries to win unfairly. So, if someone breaks the rules to get an advantage, they are engaging in "作弊."
It's important to understand that "作弊" always carries a negative meaning, implying dishonesty and unfairness. It’s a B2 level word, so it's quite common in everyday conversations.
When we talk about 作弊 (zuòbì), we're referring to the act of cheating or practicing fraud. This is a common word, especially in academic or test-taking contexts. For example, if someone copies answers during an exam, they are 作弊. It can also apply to other situations where rules are broken to gain an unfair advantage.
作弊 in 30 Seconds
- dishonest
- cheating
- fraud
Alright, let's talk about the Chinese word 作弊 (zuòbì). This isn't a fun word, but it's super common and important to understand in daily Chinese conversations, especially when you're talking about things like exams, games, or even business. Basically, 作弊 means 'to cheat' or 'to practice fraud'. It's a B2-level word, so you'll hear it quite a bit once you're past the beginner stage.
- DEFINITION
- To cheat; to practice fraud.
So, where do you actually hear or read this word in real life? Let's break it down by common situations: work, school, and the news. These are the places where cheating often comes up, and knowing these contexts will really help you grasp how to use 作弊 correctly.
§ In School
This is probably the most common place you'll encounter 作弊. Think about exams, homework, or even school competitions. Cheating in school is a big deal everywhere, and China is no exception. You'll hear teachers, students, and parents talk about it.
考试时作弊是很严重的。
Translation hint: '考试' (kǎoshì) is exam, '时' (shí) is when, '是' (shì) is to be, '很严重' (hěn yánzhòng) is very serious. So, "Cheating during exams is very serious."
他因为在考试中作弊被开除了。
Translation hint: '他' (tā) is he, '因为' (yīnwèi) is because, '在...中' (zài...zhōng) is in/during, '被开除' (bèi kāichú) is to be expelled. So, "He was expelled because he cheated in the exam."
§ At Work or in Business
Cheating isn't just for students. In the professional world, 作弊 can refer to things like falsifying data, lying on resumes, or engaging in dishonest business practices. It's about gaining an unfair advantage through deception.
公司发现有员工作弊报销。
Translation hint: '公司' (gōngsī) is company, '发现' (fāxiàn) is to discover, '有员工' (yǒu yuángōng) is some employees, '报销' (bàoxiāo) is to claim reimbursement. So, "The company discovered some employees cheated on reimbursements."
这种作弊行为损害了公司的声誉。
Translation hint: '这种' (zhè zhǒng) is this kind of, '行为' (xíngwéi) is behavior, '损害' (sǔnhài) is to harm, '公司' (gōngsī) is company, '声誉' (shēngyù) is reputation. So, "This kind of cheating behavior harmed the company's reputation."
§ In the News
News reports frequently use 作弊 when covering scandals, electoral fraud, or issues in sports. It's a concise way to describe acts of deception for personal gain or to manipulate outcomes.
新闻报道了一起体育比赛作弊丑闻。
Translation hint: '新闻' (xīnwén) is news, '报道' (bàodào) is to report, '一起' (yī qǐ) is a case of, '体育比赛' (tǐyù bǐsài) is sports competition, '丑闻' (chǒuwén) is scandal. So, "The news reported a sports competition cheating scandal."
选举中发现有作弊行为。
Translation hint: '选举' (xuǎnjǔ) is election, '中' (zhōng) is in, '发现' (fāxiàn) is to discover, '有' (yǒu) is there is/are. So, "Cheating behavior was discovered in the election."
Understanding 作弊 in these different contexts is key. It's a negative term, so you'll usually see it used to describe something that is unethical or illegal. Keep an ear out for it, and you'll notice just how often it comes up in everyday Chinese!
Difficulty Rating
Two common characters, good to recognize.
Characters are not overly complex.
Common enough in conversation, straightforward pronunciation.
Distinctive tones make it relatively easy to catch.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
学生们被警告说，任何形式的作弊都将导致严厉的惩罚。
Students were warned that any form of cheating would lead to severe punishment.
他因为在考试中作弊而被学校开除。
He was expelled from school for cheating on the exam.
公司发现有员工在报销上作弊，已采取法律行动。
The company discovered an employee was cheating on expense claims and has taken legal action.
在这场比赛中作弊的传闻让他的声誉受到了损害。
Rumors of cheating in this competition damaged his reputation.
她坚持认为自己没有作弊，但证据却指向了她。
She insisted she didn't cheat, but the evidence pointed to her.
教练对球员作弊的行为感到非常失望。
The coach was very disappointed by the player's act of cheating.
为了防止作弊，监考老师对考场进行了严格的监控。
To prevent cheating, invigilators strictly monitored the examination room.
他们被指控在选举中作弊，导致了大规模的抗议。
They were accused of cheating in the election, leading to widespread protests.
学生因在期末考试中作弊而被开除。
The student was expelled for cheating on the final exam.
作弊 (zuòbì) is a verb here, meaning 'to cheat'.
公司被发现作弊，虚报财务数据以逃税。
The company was caught cheating, falsifying financial data to evade taxes.
虚报 (xūbào) means 'to falsely report'. 作弊 acts as the reason for falsifying.
他承认在比赛中作弊，因此被取消了参赛资格。
He admitted to cheating in the competition and was therefore disqualified.
承认 (chéngrèn) means 'to admit'. 作弊 is the action he admitted to.
这种作弊行为严重损害了学校的声誉。
This act of cheating severely damaged the school's reputation.
作弊行为 (zuòbì xíngwéi) means 'act of cheating', emphasizing作弊 as a noun phrase.
为了赢得选举，一些政客不惜作弊。
To win the election, some politicians resorted to cheating.
不惜 (bùxī) means 'not hesitate to', indicating a willingness to do something negative.
裁判因涉嫌作弊而被停职调查。
The referee was suspended for investigation due to suspected cheating.
涉嫌 (shèxián) means 'to be suspected of'. 作弊 is the nature of the suspicion.
我们必须采取措施防止任何形式的作弊。
We must take measures to prevent any form of cheating.
任何形式的作弊 (rènhé xíngshì de zuòbì) means 'any form of cheating', here 作弊 is a noun.
他被指控在商业交易中作弊，以获取不当利益。
He was accused of cheating in business transactions to gain undue advantages.
被指控 (bèi zhǐkòng) means 'to be accused of'. 作弊 is the act he was accused of.
Often Confused With
This is the most common context for '作弊', meaning 'cheating on an exam'.
This refers to 'cheating in a game or competition'.
This is a specific method of cheating in an exam by using a crib sheet. It's a type of '作弊'.
Idioms & Expressions
"考试作弊"
Cheating on an exam
他考试作弊被发现了。
neutral"玩游戏作弊"
Cheating in a game
你玩游戏作弊就不公平了。
neutral"作弊行为"
Act of cheating
这种作弊行为是不能被容忍的。
formal"作弊者"
Cheater
作弊者最终会受到惩罚。
neutral"以作弊手段"
By cheating methods
他以作弊手段获得了高分。
neutral"作弊工具"
Cheating tool
请不要使用作弊工具。
neutral"被指控作弊"
Accused of cheating
他被指控作弊，面临停学。
formal"集体作弊"
Collective cheating
这是一起严重的集体作弊事件。
formal"作弊的后果"
Consequences of cheating
作弊的后果很严重。
neutral"杜绝作弊"
To prevent cheating
学校正在努力杜绝作弊。
formalEasily Confused
Both '作弊' and '欺骗' involve deception. The key difference lies in the context and type of deception.
'欺骗' is a broader term for deceiving someone, often for personal gain or to manipulate. It can be used in many contexts, like lying to a friend or scamming someone. '作弊' specifically refers to dishonest actions in tests, games, or competitions.
他为了赢得比赛而欺骗了裁判。(Tā wèile yíngdé bǐsài ér qīpiàn le裁判.) -- He deceived the referee to win the game.
Both words describe dishonest behavior, especially in formal settings.
'舞弊' is a more formal and serious term, often used in the context of corruption, embezzlement, or large-scale fraud, especially in official or organizational settings. '作弊' is more commonly used for cheating in exams or games.
公司管理层被指控在财务报告中舞弊。(Gōngsī guǎnlǐcéng bèi zhǐkòng zài cáiwù bàogào zhōng wǔbì.) -- The company's management was accused of fraud in the financial report.
This is a verb form related to deception, similar to '欺骗'.
'骗' is a general verb meaning 'to lie', 'to cheat', or 'to deceive'. It's a very common and versatile verb. '作弊' is a more specific action of cheating in a structured environment.
你骗了我，你不是真的想帮忙。(Nǐ piàn le wǒ, nǐ bù shì zhēnde xiǎng bāngmáng.) -- You lied to me; you don't really want to help.
This term also refers to fraudulent activities.
'诈骗' specifically refers to fraud, especially criminal fraud involving money or property, often through schemes or trickery. It's a more serious legal term. '作弊' is cheating, which can be minor or serious depending on the context.
他因涉嫌诈骗而被捕。(Tā yīn shèxián zhàpiàn ér bèi bǔ.) -- He was arrested on suspicion of fraud.
Both imply passing something off dishonestly.
'蒙混' means to muddle through, to palm off, or to pass oneself off as something one is not, often by being vague or ambiguous to avoid exposure. It's less about active, malicious cheating like '作弊' and more about getting by deceptively.
他试图蒙混过关，但最终还是被发现了。(Tā shìtú ménghùn guòguān, dàn zuìzhōng háishì bèi fāxiàn le.) -- He tried to muddle through, but was eventually discovered.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a student trying to '作弊' (zuòbì) on a test. They '作' (zuò) - do something, and '弊' (bì) - something harmful or bad. So, they 'do bad' or 'do harm' by cheating.
Visual Association
Picture a classroom scene where a student is secretly looking at notes hidden in their sleeve during an exam. This action of '作弊' (cheating) is happening right under the teacher's nose.
Word Web
Challenge
Think about situations where '作弊' might occur. For example, during a test, in a game, or in a competition. Create a simple sentence for each scenario. Example: 他考试时作弊了。(Tā kǎoshì shí zuòbì le.) - He cheated during the exam.
Test Yourself 42 questions
考试时，我们不应该___。
In an exam, you should not cheat. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
那个学生因为___被老师批评了。
The student was criticized by the teacher because of cheating. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
___是一种不诚实的行为。
Cheating is a dishonest behavior. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
他试图在考试中___，但是被发现了。
He tried to cheat in the exam, but was discovered. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
请不要___，这不公平。
Please don't cheat, it's not fair. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
学校有严格的规定，禁止学生___。
The school has strict rules prohibiting students from cheating. 作弊 (zuòpì) means to cheat or practice fraud.
Write a short sentence about why cheating is bad in school.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在学校作弊是不好的行为，会影响你的学习。
Imagine you saw someone cheating on an exam. What would you tell a friend about it? Write one sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我看到我的同学在考试中作弊了。
Write a sentence explaining a consequence of cheating in a game.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在游戏中作弊可能会让你失去朋友。
小明为什么被老师批评？
Read this passage:
小明在数学考试中作弊了。老师发现后，非常生气，取消了他的考试成绩，并告诉他的父母。小明感到很后悔，他知道自己错了。
小明为什么被老师批评？
文章中明确提到“小明在数学考试中作弊了”，这是他被批评的原因。
文章中明确提到“小明在数学考试中作弊了”，这是他被批评的原因。
这位选手作弊的后果是什么？
Read this passage:
在一个跑步比赛中，有选手为了赢得比赛而作弊，抄近路。裁判发现了他的行为，立刻取消了他的比赛资格，并警告他以后不能再参加任何比赛。
这位选手作弊的后果是什么？
文章中提到“裁判发现了他的行为，立刻取消了他的比赛资格”。
文章中提到“裁判发现了他的行为，立刻取消了他的比赛资格”。
根据这段话，为什么在网上游戏中作弊不好？
Read this passage:
我的朋友告诉我，在网上游戏中作弊是不好的，因为这会破坏游戏的公平性，让其他玩家感到不开心。他说大家应该公平竞争。
根据这段话，为什么在网上游戏中作弊不好？
文章中明确指出“这会破坏游戏的公平性”。
文章中明确指出“这会破坏游戏的公平性”。
The teacher discovered students cheating on the exam.
He was disqualified from the competition for cheating.
Cheating is dishonest behavior and leads to serious consequences.
Read this aloud:
作弊是不对的。
Focus: zuò bì
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我不会作弊。
Focus: wǒ bú huì zuò bì
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你作弊，会有什么后果？
Focus: rú guǒ nǐ zuò bì, huì yǒu shén me hòu guǒ?
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Cheating in exams is dishonest behavior.' The correct order is to start with the context 'in exams', then the action 'cheating', and finally the description 'is dishonest behavior'.
This sentence means 'He was disqualified from the competition because of cheating.' The structure '因为...被...' (because of... was...) is key here, placing '作弊' (cheating) as the reason.
This sentence means 'We should put an end to cheating.' '杜绝' (put an end to) is the verb, and '作弊行为' (cheating behavior) is the object, following '我们应该' (we should).
The student was caught cheating on the exam and was severely punished.
To win the game, some athletes choose to cheat, but this will ultimately damage their reputation.
The company has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of cheating.
Read this aloud:
请你用“作弊”造一个句子，描述一个你认为不公平的场景。
Focus: 作弊
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你在考试中发现有人作弊，你会怎么做？请用中文说出你的看法。
Focus: 作弊
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
“作弊”在不同的语境下可能指代什么？请举例说明。
Focus: 作弊
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The students were caught cheating on the exam, which caused a huge uproar.
He was disqualified for cheating in an international competition.
The company was accused of cheating by using false statements to evade taxes.
Read this aloud:
作弊行为不仅损害了个人声誉，也破坏了公平竞争原则。
Focus: 作弊行为
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
为了防止学生作弊，学校采取了多种严格的措施。
Focus: 防止学生作弊
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
在体育赛事中作弊是极其不道德的，会受到严厉的惩罚。
Focus: 体育赛事中作弊
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Cheating in an exam is a very dishonest act.' The structure follows Subject (作弊) + Adverbial (在考试中) + Predicate (是...行为).
This sentence means 'He was expelled from school because he cheated.' The structure is Subject (他) + Cause (因为作弊) + Passive marker (被) + Verb (开除了) + Object (学籍).
This sentence means 'This kind of behavior will cause serious damage to one's personal reputation.' The structure is Subject (这种行为) + Modal Verb (会) + Prepositional phrase (对...造成) + Object (严重损害).
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
作弊 is a common term for cheating, especially in academic or competitive contexts.
- dishonest
- cheating
- fraud
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More daily_life words
朝九晚五
B2From nine to five; regular working hours.
未免
B2Rather; a bit too; truly (implies something excessive).
废弃
B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
恪守
B2To scrupulously observe; to strictly adhere to.
反常
B2abnormal, unusual
充裕
B2Abundant; ample.
充沛
B2Abundant; plentiful; full of energy.
门禁卡
B2Access card; entry card.
门禁
B2Access control (system).
配件
B2Fittings; accessories; spare parts.
