真伪莫辨 zhēn wěi mò biàn truth and falsehood are indistinguishable

Explanation

真伪莫辨指真假难以分辨。形容事物真假难以辨别，难以确定。

Zhēn wěi mò biàn means it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. It describes a situation where it is difficult to determine the truth or falsity of something.

Origin Story

战国时期，群雄逐鹿，百家争鸣，各种思想流派层出不穷。一时间，真真假假，难以分辨。有一个游说诸侯的学者，他精通各种学说，出口成章，常常能引经据典，旁征博引，说得天花乱坠。然而，他所说的话，真真假假，难以辨别。他有时会夸大其词，有时又会隐瞒事实，让人捉摸不透。一些人被他花言巧语所迷惑，深信不疑；但也有一些人，对他所说的话，心存疑虑，不敢轻信。最终，他虽然名利双收，却也留下了一个真伪莫辨的争议。后世的人们，也无法准确地判断他所言的真实性。这故事告诉我们，要学会辨别真伪，不要轻易被花言巧语所迷惑。

zhànguó shíqī, qún xióng zhúlù, bǎijiā zhēngmíng, gè zhǒng sīxiǎng liú pài céng chū bù qióng. yī shíjiān, zhēn zhēn jiǎ jiǎ, nányǐ fēnbiàn. yǒu yīgè yóushuō zhū hóu de xuézhě, tā jīngtōng gè zhǒng xuéshuō, chūkǒu chéng zhāng, chángcháng néng yǐn jīng jù diǎn, páng zhēng bó yǐn, shuō de tiānhuā luàn zhuì. rán'ér, tā suǒ shuō de huà, zhēn zhēn jiǎ jiǎ, nányǐ biànbié. tā yǒushí huì kuādà qícì, yǒushí yòu huì yǐnmán shìshí, ràng rén zhuōmō bù tòu. yīxiē rén bèi tā huāyán qiǎoyǔ suǒ míhuò, shēnxìn bù yí; dàn yě yǒu yīxiē rén, duì tā suǒ shuō de huà, xīn cún yí lǜ, bù gǎn qīngxìn. zuìzhōng, tā suīrán míng lì shuāng shōu, què yě liú xià le yīgè zhēn wěi mò biàn de zhēngyì. hòushì de rénmen, yě wúfǎ zhǔnquè de pànduàn tā suǒ yán de zhēnshíxìng. zhè gùshì gàosù wǒmen, yào xuéhuì biànbié zhēn wěi, bù yào qīngyì bèi huāyán qiǎoyǔ suǒ míhuò.

During the Warring States period in ancient China, various schools of thought flourished, leading to a confusing mix of truth and falsehood. A scholar, skilled in rhetoric and debate, traveled between kingdoms, captivating audiences with his eloquent speeches. However, the authenticity of his words was often questionable. He'd embellish facts, omit details, and weave a tapestry of persuasive arguments that made it nearly impossible to discern truth from fabrication. Some were completely swayed by his charisma and eloquence, while others remained skeptical. Although he amassed wealth and fame, a shadow of uncertainty always followed him; his legacy remains a testament to the difficulty in separating truth from fiction. This story reminds us to be critical thinkers and question the veracity of claims, rather than blindly accepting persuasive rhetoric.

Usage

用于形容真假难以分辨的局面。

yòng yú xiángróng zhēn jiǎ nányǐ fēnbiàn de júmiàn

Used to describe a situation where it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Examples

• 这幅画作是真是假，真伪莫辨。

  zhè fú huà zuò shì zhēn shì jiǎ, zhēn wěi mò biàn

  It is hard to distinguish the authenticity of this painting.

• 这场辩论，双方观点针锋相对，真伪莫辨。

  zhè chǎng biànlùn, shuāng fāng guǎndiǎn zhēnfēng xiāng duì, zhēn wěi mò biàn

  In this debate, the arguments of both sides are so diametrically opposed that the truth is hard to discern.

Related Idioms

• 真假难辨

• 真伪难分

Opposite Idioms

• 一目了然

• 清清楚楚