設飾（shè shì）

Pronunciation: shè shì

Basic Meaning: To make up, to adorn

Detailed Explanation: 設飾 means to decorate or adorn something, usually referring to adding embellishments or decorations to enhance its appearance. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who tries to make themselves appear better or more impressive than they actually are.

Usage Scenarios: 設飾 is often used in a negative context to criticize someone for putting on a false appearance or pretending to be something they are not. It can also be used to describe the act of embellishing or beautifying something.

Story Origin: The origin of 設飾 is not clear, but it is believed to have originated from ancient Chinese culture where people would decorate their homes and themselves with various ornaments and accessories to enhance their appearance.

Structure of the Idiom: 設飾 is a compound word made up of two characters: 設 (shè) meaning "to set up" or "to arrange" and 飾 (shì) meaning "decoration" or "adornment".

Example Sentences:

1. 她總是喜歡設飾自己的過去，讓人很難相信她說的話。 (She always likes to embellish her past, making it hard to believe what she says.)

2. 這幅畫的設飾十分精美，每一個細節都被精心雕琢。 (The decoration of this painting is exquisite, with every detail carefully crafted.)

Memory Techniques: To remember the meaning of 設飾, you can think of it as "setting up decorations". Imagine yourself arranging and decorating a room with beautiful ornaments, or think of someone who is trying to make themselves appear better by adding embellishments.

Extended Learning: To further understand the concept of 設飾, you can explore other related idioms such as "花枝招展" (huā zhī zhāo zhǎn) which means to dress up or show off, or "美化" (měi huà) which means to beautify or embellish.

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children (age 8-12): 媽媽為了慶祝生日，設飾了整個房間，讓我們感到很開心。 (Mom decorated the whole room to celebrate her birthday, and it made us very happy.)

2. Teenagers (age 13-18): 他總是設飾自己的成績，讓別人以為他很聰明。 (He always embellishes his achievements, making others think he is very smart.)

3. Adults (age 30+): 她雖然設飾了自己的外表，但內心卻充滿了不安和不自信。 (Although she adorns her appearance, she is filled with insecurity and lack of confidence on the inside.)