いんちきinchiki

1. noun, na-adjectivecheating; fraud; trickery; deception
   彼女かのじょは例れいの金かねのインチキ証券しょうけん商法しょうほうに引ひっかかり持ち金もちがねのほとんどを失うしなってしまった。↗

   She was taken in by that fake gold certificate scandal and lost most of her money.
2. na-adjective, nounfake; bogus; quack; sham; counterfeit

• Synonym偽物にせものNeutralRefers to counterfeit goods and fakes — physical objects. 「インチキ」 is more colloquial and also covers the act of cheating or trickery itself.
• Synonym偽にせNeutralMostly a prefix meaning fake, as in 「偽札」 or 「偽医者」, and common in everyday use. On its own it does not describe cheating or trickery.
• SynonymフェイクNeutralA loanword for fakes and imitations, as in 「フェイクニュース」. Carries a modern, media-flavored feel; not used for cheating at gambling.
• SynonymごまかすNeutralA verb for glossing things over and deceiving, as in 「笑ってごまかす」. Leans toward covering up the truth or evading an issue.
• SynonymいかものCasualMeans fakes, but also odd or curious things, as in 「いかもの食い」. Colloquial and rather old-fashioned; unlike 「インチキ」 it never refers to cheating.
• Synonymまがい物まがいものNeutralMeans imitations, as in 「まがい物の宝石」. Suggests copies made to look like the real thing; it does not refer to cheating or fraud.
• SynonymいかさまNeutralRefers to cheating and rigged games, as in 「いかさま賭博」, and can also mean fakes. The closest match to 「インチキ」 in both senses.
• SynonymまやかしNeutralRefers to deceptive appearances, as in 「まやかしの言葉」. Leans toward insincere words or tricks meant to fool people.
• SynonymまがいWrittenWritten-style word for an imitation or sham, often a suffix meaning quasi-, as in 「詐欺紛い」; it marks a similar nature, so it is not limited to fake goods.
• SynonymえせWrittenA written-style prefix meaning pseudo- or would-be, as in 「似非科学」 or 「似非紳士」. It modifies people or things that fall short of their name.
• SynonymがせCasualSlang for false information or fake goods, as in 「ガセネタ」. Centers on untrue rumors; it does not refer to cheating.
• SynonymぺてんCasualColloquial for a swindle, as in 「ぺてんにかける」. Leans toward running scams to deceive people; not used for counterfeits.
• Related騙すだますNeutralA verb meaning to deceive, the most general choice. It covers only the act of deceiving someone and cannot refer to fake goods themselves.
• Related偽るいつわるWrittenA written-style verb for lying and pretending, as in 「身分を偽る」. Leans toward concealing one's identity or the facts.
• Related乗せるのせるNeutralIn its deceptive sense it means leading someone along, as in 「口車に乗せる」. Its basic meanings are to place something on top or give a ride.
• Related図るはかるWrittenWhen written 「謀る」 it can mean to plot against or deceive someone; its usual senses are to plan and to strive for something.
• Related偽ぎNeutralMostly a prefix meaning fake, as in 「偽札」 or 「偽医者」, and common in everyday use. On its own it does not describe cheating or trickery.
• RelatedハッタリCasualColloquial for bluffing — acting tougher than you are to intimidate. Not necessarily about swindling money, and it never refers to fake goods.
• Related悪巧みわるだくみNeutralMeans sinister schemes and plotting. It stays at the level of planning and does not refer to fake goods or cheating.
• Related奸計かんけいWrittenA written word for crafty, sinister plots. Rare even in formal prose; in daily speech people say 「悪巧み」 instead.
• RelatedたらしこむCasualA colloquial verb for cajoling people with sweet talk. Leans toward deceiving someone emotionally or financially to get one's way.
• Antonym本物ほんものNeutralThe genuine article — the direct opposite of the fake, deceptive things 「インチキ」 describes.

For cheating, scams or bogus goods, 「インチキ」 is the colloquial pick, as in 「インチキするな」; 「いかさま」 is its closest match. For fake goods say 「偽物」 or 「まがい物」; 「フェイク」 fits modern fakes like 「フェイクニュース」, 「ガセ」 covers false rumors. For deceiving, 「騙す」 is the general verb, 「偽る」 hides identity or facts, 「誤魔化す」 glosses over, 「たらし込む」 sweet-talks, 「口車に乗せる」 leads someone on, 「謀る」 plots. 「偽」 and 「似非」 are prefixes and 「紛い」 a suffix for pseudo-things; 「悪巧み」 and 「奸計」 mean schemes; 「ハッタリ」 is bluffing, 「ぺてん」 a swindle. The opposite is 「本物」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 賭け事かけごと等とうでの不正ふせい。いかさま。ずる。
2. にせもの（偽物にせもの、贋物にせもの）。まがいもの。
3. まやかしやごまかしの多おおいさま。でたらめであるさま。