誣

To falsely accuse or calumniate. The glyph denotes speech used as a weapon to attribute a crime or fault to another. It refers specifically to framing or defaming rather than general falsehood (cf. 妄 or 謊). This includes bringing false official charges in legal/political contexts and slander intended to destroy a reputation in social contexts.

Primarily a transitive verb that typically requires an object—the target of the accusation. It should not be treated as a general adjective for "false" unless it appears within a compound modifying a noun.

Contrast with 讒 (chán): while both involve slander, 讒 implies insidious whispering or subtle manipulation, whereas 誣 is the direct assertion of a false fact or specific accusation. Contrast with 诳 (zhòng): unlike general deception or trickery, 誣 carries a weight of aggression and malice.

Simplified variant: U+8BEC.

Identify the target of the speech and the nature of the "charge." Because the word implies an attack, look for the specific legal or social harm being sought by the speaker.