似是而非
sìshì-érfēi
specious; seemingly right but actually wrong
Every meaning
sìshì-érfēi
- specious; seemingly right but actually wrong
Its characters
- 似sìto resemble; similar (as in 相似)
- 是shìto be (am; is; are)
- 而érand; and yet; but
- 非fēinot; non- (as in 非法)
Words with 似
Words with 是
Meanings are from Mandarin The Wild’s own dictionary. Levels follow the official HSK word list (the exam’s 2025 syllabus, levels 7–9 shown together).