Definition
粉饰 has two related but distinct senses: a literal one ('to paint and adorn, to decorate') and a figurative one used critically ('to gloss over problems, to whitewash'). In the figurative sense, it carries a negative connotation — you're covering up flaws to make things look better than they are. This is common in political and corporate contexts (粉饰太平, 粉饰错误). The literal sense is rarer in modern speech but appears in descriptions of buildings or makeup.
v.
to whitewashto gloss over (flaws or problems)to paint and adornto decorate (literally)
Examples
- 粉饰。Zhèngfǔ shìtú fěn shì jīngjì wēijī dài lái de yǐngxiǎng.The government tried to gloss over the impact of the economic crisis.
- 粉饰。Tā xǐhuan zài shèjiāo méitǐ shàng fěn shì zìjǐ de rìcháng shēnghuó.He likes to whitewash his daily life on social media.
- 粉饰，。Zhè zuò lǎo jiàotáng jīngguò jīngxīn fěn shì, huīfù le yuánlái de guāngcǎi.This old church was carefully painted and adorned, restoring its original splendor.
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