装神弄鬼 zhuāng shén nòng guǐ playing ghost

Explanation

装神弄鬼是指装扮成鬼神的样子来吓唬人，比喻玩弄手段欺骗人，或故意把事情弄得很神秘，让人无法捉摸。

To act mysteriously or deceptively, often to frighten or confuse people.

Origin Story

很久以前，在一个偏僻的小村庄里，住着一位名叫阿强的年轻人。阿强为人狡猾，喜欢玩弄诡计。一天晚上，村里发生了一件怪事：家家户户的鸡都被偷走了。村民们人心惶惶，议论纷纷。阿强却装作若无其事的样子，还故意在村口装神弄鬼，吓唬其他村民。他一会儿扮成鬼魅，一会儿又扮成妖怪，弄得人心惶惶，更加相信有鬼怪作祟。村民们吓得不敢外出，更加相信是鬼怪偷了他们的鸡。最终，阿强的诡计败露，他偷鸡的事实被揭穿。村民们狠狠地教训了阿强，从此再也不敢装神弄鬼了。从此，阿强不敢再在村里装神弄鬼了，村民们也更加团结，共同维护村子的安宁。

hěn jiǔ yǐqián, zài yīgè piānpì de xiǎo cūn zhuāng lǐ, zhù zhe yī wèi míng jiào ā qiáng de nián qīng rén。ā qiáng wéi rén jiǎohuá, xǐhuan wán nòng guǐjì。yī tiān wǎnshang, cūn lǐ fāshēng le yī jiàn guài shì: jiā jiā hù hù de jī dōu bèi tōu zǒu le。cūn mín men rén xīn huáng huáng, yìlùn fēnfēn。ā qiáng què zhuāng zuò ruò wú qí shì de yàngzi, hái gùyì zài cūn kǒu zhuāng shén nòng guǐ, xiàhu hu qi tā cūn mín。tā yī huǐ er bàn chéng guǐ mèi, yī huǐ er yòu bàn chéng yāoguài, nòng de rén xīn huáng huáng, gèng jiā xiāngxìn yǒu guǐ guài zuò suì。cūn mín men xià de bù gǎn wàichū, gèng jiā xiāngxìn shì guǐ guài tōu le tā men de jī。zuìzhōng, ā qiáng de guǐjì bàilù, tā tōu jī de shìshí bèi jiēchuān。cūn mín men hěn hěn de jiàoxun le ā qiáng, cóng cǐ zài yě bù gǎn zhuāng shén nòng guǐ le。cóng cǐ, ā qiáng bù gǎn zài zài cūn lǐ zhuāng shén nòng guǐ le, cūn mín men yě gèng jiā tuánjié, gòngtóng wéihù cūn zi de ānníng。

Long ago, in a remote village, lived a young man named Aqiang. Aqiang was cunning and loved to play tricks. One night, something strange happened in the village: all the chickens were stolen. The villagers were frightened and gossiped. Aqiang, however, pretended nothing had happened and even deliberately played ghost at the village entrance to frighten other villagers. Sometimes he turned into a ghost, sometimes into a monster, making people even more afraid and believing in ghosts. The villagers were too scared to go out, further believing that ghosts had stolen their chickens. Finally, Aqiang's trick was revealed, and the fact that he stole the chickens was uncovered. The villagers severely punished Aqiang, and he dared not play ghost anymore. From that day on, Aqiang dared not play ghost in the village again, and the villagers became even more united, working together to maintain the peace of the village.

Usage

用于形容故意制造神秘气氛或用欺骗手段吓唬人。

yòng yú xiáoróng gùyì zhìzào shénmì fēnwéi huò yòng qīpiàn shǒuduàn xiàhù rén。

Used to describe intentionally creating a mysterious atmosphere or using deceptive means to scare people.

Examples

• 他总是装神弄鬼，让人捉摸不透。

  tā zǒngshì zhuāng shén nòng guǐ, ràng rén zhuōmō bù tòu。

  He always acts mysteriously, making people hard to understand.

• 别装神弄鬼了，快说重点！

  bié zhuāng shén nòng guǐ le, kuài shuō zhòngdiǎn！

  Stop playing mysterious games and tell me what happened!

Related Idioms

• 装神扮鬼

• 故弄玄虚

Opposite Idioms

• 坦诚相待

• 光明磊落