虚构 xūgòu to make up
to make up; fabrication; fictional; imaginary
How to remember 虚构: 虚 false + 构 to compose = to make up.
Characters
How it is used
- To fabricate / make up; fictional - 虚构故事 (xūgòu gùshi) a made-up story; 纯属虚构 (chún shǔ xūgòu) purely fictional (the standard disclaimer).
- Neutral for literature (小说是虚构的, novels are fiction) but negative when it means fabricating facts - 虚构事实 (xūgòu shìshí) fabricate the facts.
- Contrast 虚假 (xūjiǎ, false): 虚构 stresses the act of inventing; 虚假 stresses the resulting falseness.