deception / illusion
Loading your saved state.
deception / illusion
The act of deliberately misleading someone or creating a false impression. Also the state of being mistaken.
Der Zaubertrick beruhte auf einer geschickten optischen Täuschung.
The magic trick was based on a clever optical illusion.
'Die Täuschung' (deception/illusion) is derived from the verb 'täuschen' (to deceive / to be mistaken). It can describe both the active action of deceiving someone ('jemanden täuschen') and the state of being mistaken ('sich täuschen').
Seine Freundlichkeit war nur Täuschung, um an ihr Geld zu kommen.
His friendliness was just deception in order to get her money.
You can often recognize the meaning from the verb: If something 'auf einer Täuschung beruht' (is based on a deception/illusion), it means misleading someone. If someone 'in einer Täuschung lebt' (lives under a delusion), it means a mistaken belief.
Der angebliche Lottogewinn beruhte auf einer Täuschung.
The supposed lottery win was based on a deception.
When it is about deliberate misleading, 'Täuschung' (deception/illusion) is often combined with adjectives such as 'optisch' (optical), 'akustisch' (acoustic), or 'geschickt' (clever/skillful).
Spiegel können eine optische Täuschung erzeugen und einen Raum größer wirken lassen.
Mirrors can create an optical illusion and make a room appear larger.
When 'Täuschung' (delusion) describes a mistaken belief, the preposition 'in' is almost always used. Typical phrases are 'in einer Täuschung leben' (to live under a delusion) or 'sich in einer Täuschung befinden' (to be under a delusion).
Er befindet sich in der Täuschung, dass er für die Prüfung nicht lernen muss.
He is under the delusion that he doesn't have to study for the exam.
fraud / cheating
'der Betrug' and 'die Täuschung' can both mean that someone creates a false impression. However, 'Täuschung' is more general. It can be deliberate misleading, but also a false idea that someone has. 'Betrug' is more specific and more serious: someone deliberately deceives in order to gain an advantage, often money. In addition, fraud is a criminal offense. The words can be confused because every case of fraud contains a kind of deception. But not every deception is the same as fraud. When it is about a legally or financially serious act, 'Betrug' is more precise.
Im dunklen Flur war die Bewegung nur eine Täuschung des Auges.
In the dark hallway, the movement was only an illusion of the eye.
Vor dem Termin erklärte der Anwalt, warum der Fall als Betrug gilt.
Before the appointment, the lawyer explained why the case counts as fraud.