贋
counterfeit, forgery
Readings
On'yomi
- ガン
Kun'yomi
- にせ
Meaning
贋 centers on something that is not genuine: a counterfeit item or a forgery made to deceive.
Most common words using 贋
- 贋作がんさく
fake (work); counterfeit
- 真贋しんがん
genuineness or spuriousness; authenticity; the genuine and the spurious
- 真贋論争しんがんろんそう
argument as to (about) the authenticity (of ...)
- 贋アカシアにせアカシア
black locust; robinia pseudoacacia
- 贋作者がんさくしゃ
counterfeiter; faker; appropriationist
- 贋札がんさつ
counterfeit bill; counterfeit note
- 贋造がんぞう
counterfeiting; forgery; fabrication
- 贋造紙幣がんぞうしへい
counterfeit paper money
- 贋金にせがね
counterfeit money
- 贋首にせくび
falsified severed head
Study
Etymology
贋 combines 雁 (wild goose) with 貝 (shell/money). The wild goose likely contributes the sound ガン, while 貝 relates to money or value, together suggesting something of false value.
Meaning mnemonic
A wild goose (雁) is passed off as valuable money (貝) — a clear counterfeit.
Reading mnemonic
For ガン, imagine a gang of counterfeiters passing fake geese as real money: gang -> ガン.