讹诈 ézhà to extort under false pretenses
to extort under false pretenses; to blackmail; to bluff; to defraud
How to remember 讹诈: 讹 to swindle + 诈 to cheat = to extort under false pretenses.
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How it is used
- To extort or blackmail using threats or false pretenses - 他被人讹诈了一大笔钱 (tā bèi rén ézhà le yī dà bǐ qián) he was blackmailed out of a large sum.
- Note 讹 reads é, not huà. Overlaps with 敲诈 (qiāozhà) and 勒索 (lèsuǒ); 讹诈 leans toward deceit/false claims, e.g. a faked injury demanding money.
- Formal/legal and news register; strongly negative.