Definition
故弄玄虚 is a four-character idiom meaning 'to deliberately make things seem mysterious or complicated when they aren't'. It describes someone who intentionally uses obscure language, exaggerated gestures, or unnecessary complexity to appear profound or to confuse others. Use it as a predicate or attributive (故弄玄虚的做法). The tone is mildly critical — you're calling out pretentiousness.
f.e.
to deliberately mystifyto be intentionally obscure or pretentious
Examples
- 故弄玄虚，。Tā shuōhuà zǒngshì gù nòng xuán xū, ràng rén tīng bu dǒng.He always speaks in a deliberately mystifying way, making people unable to understand.
- 故弄玄虚，。Bié gù nòng xuán xū le, zhíjiē gàosu wǒmen dá'àn ba.Stop being deliberately mysterious and just tell us the answer.
- ，。Zhè piān wénzhāng gùnòngxuánxū, qíshí nèiróng hěn kōngdòng.This article is deliberately mystifying, but actually its content is very hollow.
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