manipulate legal texts; play with words
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesidiom
to distort legal provisions to cheat; to manipulate legal texts for personal gain
derogatoryOften used to describe officials or lawyers who exploit legal loopholes. Carries a derogatory connotation. Also known as 舞文弄法.
Nà那
ge个
guān官
yuán员
wǔ舞
wén文
nòng弄
mò墨
，
bǎ把
wú无
gū辜
de的
rén人
guān关
jìn进
le了
jiān监
yù狱
。
That official manipulated the legal texts and imprisoned innocent people.
Tā他
shàn擅
cháng长
wǔ舞
wén文
nòng弄
mò墨
，
zǒng总
néng能
zhǎo找
dào到
fǎ法
lǜ律
lòu漏
dòng洞
wéi为
zì自
jǐ己
móu谋
lì利
。
He is good at playing with legal texts and can always find loopholes to profit himself.
idiom
to play with literary techniques; to show off one's writing skills; to engage in empty wordplay
neutralCan be neutral when describing literary practice, but often carries a negative implication of showing off or lacking substance.
Tā他
bù不
guò过
shì是
zài在
wǔ舞
wén文
nòng弄
mò墨
，
bìng并
méi没
yǒu有
shén什
me么
zhēn真
cái才
shí实
xué学
。
He is just showing off his writing skills and doesn't have any real talent or learning.
Zhè这
piān篇
wén文
zhāng章
chún纯
cuì粹
shì是
wǔ舞
wén文
nòng弄
mò墨
，
nèi内
róng容
kōng空
dòng洞
wú无
wù物
。
This article is purely playing with words, with empty and meaningless content.
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Gǔ古
dài代
wén文
rén人
cháng常
cháng常
jù聚
zài在
yì一
qǐ起
wǔ舞
wén文
nòng弄
mò墨
，
qiē切
cuō磋
jì技
yì艺
。
Ancient literati often gathered together to practice writing and exchange skills.