# 鱼目混珠

yú mù hùn zhū

Pass off a fake as genuine

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Mix fish eyes with pearls

**Traditional Chinese:** 魚目混珠

**Register:** Critical · formal

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Condemn counterfeit or inferior substitutions.

Usually deliberate deception, not innocent similarity.

## Understanding the expression

Fish eyes can resemble pearls at a glance, but appearance hides a major difference in value. The expression describes mixing false or inferior items into genuine ones so that buyers or observers mistake them. Modern use concerns goods, credentials, and sometimes ideas. It is an accusation of deception rather than a neutral comparison. Reliable checks help distinguish the real from the substitute, while unfamiliar appearance alone is not sufficient to declare something counterfeit.

## Examples

商家鱼目混珠，掺入假货。

### Traditional Chinese

商家魚目混珠，摻入假貨。

shāng jiā yú mù hùn zhū ， chān rù jiǎ huò 。

The merchant mixed counterfeits with genuine goods.

假证书不能鱼目混珠。

### Traditional Chinese

假證書不能魚目混珠。

jiǎ zhèng shū bù néng yú mù hùn zhū 。

Fake certificates cannot be passed off as genuine.

她仔细检查，防止鱼目混珠。

### Traditional Chinese

她仔細檢查，防止魚目混珠。

tā zǐ xì jiǎn chá ， fáng zhǐ yú mù hùn zhū 。

She checks carefully to prevent counterfeit substitution.

这批零件有人鱼目混珠。

### Traditional Chinese

這批零件有人魚目混珠。

zhè pī líng jiàn yǒu rén yú mù hùn zhū 。

Someone has mixed inferior substitutes into these parts.

## 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=%E9%AD%9A%E7%9B%AE%E6%B7%B7%E7%8F%A0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=350&webMd=1&la=0)

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