偽(にせ)

にせ
noun, prefix
fake, counterfeit
1. fake, counterfeit, forgery
Something made to imitate or resemble the genuine article, typically with intent to deceive.
これは偽(にせ)のブランド品(ひん)だ。
This is a counterfeit brand-name product.
偽(にせ)札(さつ)が見(み)つかった。
Counterfeit bills were found.
本物(ほんもの)か偽(にせ)かを見分(みわ)けるのは難(むずか)しい。
It's difficult to tell the real from the fake.

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.

COMMON 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)

CONTRAST:
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.

general
Added 2026.2.5 20:49 · Revised 2026.3.29 18:23
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