似是而非 sì shì ér fēi

apparently right but actually wrong; specious (idiom)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 35243rd word

Definitions

  1. 1. apparently right but actually wrong; specious (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
似 sì HSK 5
see 似的shì de; to seem; to appear
是 shì HSK 1
to be; is; are
而 ér HSK 3
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
非 fēi HSK 2
not; to not be; non-