"碰瓷" (pèng cí) is a Chinese slang term that literally translates to "touching porcelain." It refers to a type of scam where a person fakes an injury or a traffic accident to extort money from someone, usually a driver.
Here's a breakdown of what the term means and describes:
Meaning: "碰瓷" is a modern-day term for a fraudulent scheme. The term's origin comes from a historical scam where con artists would place a valuable piece of porcelain on the road. When a carriage or person accidentally knocked it over, the scammer would demand an exorbitant amount of money for the "damaged" antique.
What it's used for: The term "碰瓷" is now commonly used to describe a situation where someone intentionally creates a minor accident or collision to make it look like the other party is at fault. The goal is to deceive the other person into paying them compensation, often without involving the police or insurance.
What it describes: It describes a premeditated act of fraud. The person committing "碰瓷" might:
• Jump in front of a slow-moving car.
• Throw themselves onto a bicycle.
• Pretend to be hit by a car even when there was no contact.
• Claim that their expensive object (like a phone or laptop) was broken in a minor bump.
In essence, "碰瓷" is a term for a "staged accident" or "scam" used to extort money. It's a form of deception that takes advantage of the other person's fear of legal trouble or a sense of responsibility.