偽(にせ)

偽(にせ) means "fake" or "counterfeit" and functions both as a standalone noun and as a prefix that attaches to other nouns to indicate something is not genuine.

Compounds

• 偽(にせ)もの: fake item, counterfeit
• 偽(にせ)札(さつ): counterfeit money/bills
• 偽(にせ)名(な): false name, alias
• 偽(にせ)医者(いしゃ): fake doctor, quack
• 偽(にせ)情報(じょうほう): false information

Similar words

• 偽物(にせもの): counterfeit, imitation (the noun form)
• 贋作(がんさく): forgery (specifically of art or antiques)
• フェイク: fake (loanword, common in fashion and media)
• 模造品(もぞうひん): imitation product (neutral; focuses on the copying)

本物(ほんもの) (the real thing, genuine article) is the opposite of 偽物(にせもの). The pattern 本物(ほんもの)か偽物(にせもの)か (real or fake?) is very common.