# 移花接木

yí huā jiē mù

Deceptively substitute or rearrange things

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Move a flower and graft it onto a tree

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe misleading alteration or false attribution.

Usually deceptive, unlike legitimate grafting.

## Understanding the expression

Moving one plant’s part onto another gives the expression a vivid model of substitution. In figurative usage, a speaker or editor may move facts, images, or words into a different setting to create a false impression. The manipulation can preserve authentic pieces while changing what they seem to mean. It is therefore different from inventing everything outright. Careful attention to original context helps reveal whether apparent evidence has been deceptively rearranged.

## Examples

视频被移花接木，意思全变了。

### Traditional Chinese

視頻被移花接木，意思全變了。

shì pín bèi yí huā jiē mù ， yì sī quán biàn le 。

The video was deceptively rearranged, changing its meaning entirely.

他把别人的成果移花接木到自己名下。

### Traditional Chinese

他把別人的成果移花接木到自己名下。

tā bǎ bié rén de chéng guǒ yí huā jiē mù dào zì jǐ míng xià 。

He falsely attributed someone else’s work to himself.

这张照片经过移花接木。

### Traditional Chinese

這張照片經過移花接木。

zhè zhāng zhào piàn jīng guò yí huā jiē mù 。

This photograph has been deceptively altered.

别移花接木，把旧数据说成新结果。

### Traditional Chinese

別移花接木，把舊數據說成新結果。

bié yí huā jiē mù ， bǎ jiù shù jù shuō chéng xīn jié guǒ 。

Do not misrepresent old data as new results.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%A7%BB%E8%8A%B1%E6%8E%A5%E6%9C%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=816&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [一孔之见 yī kǒng zhī jiàn A limited personal view ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-kong-zhi-jian)

- [一目了然 yī mù liǎo rán Understand clearly at a glance ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-mu-liao-ran)

- [一窍不通 yī qiào bù tōng Understand absolutely nothing about something ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-qiao-bu-tong)

- [异曲同工 yì qǔ tóng gōng Use different approaches with equally good effects ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-qu-tong-gong)

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