huàshù

Meaning:

“话” is short for “说话,” which means “speaking,” and “术” means “skills.” In China’s long history, “the art of speaking” has been an important skill in helping people to climb up the social ladder and achieve success in business and government office. In modern society, however, the term is more frequently related to sales tricks or hoaxes, where an elaborate set of speaking skills are employed to help sell stuff or swindle money from people.

Example:

A: 房产中介小李又催我了，说还有一个客户也看中了我喜欢的那套房，已经准备付定金了。我还拿不定主意，怎么办？

Fángchǎn zhōngjiè xiǎolǐ yòu cuī wǒ le，shuō háiyǒu yīgè kèhù yě kànzhòng le wǒ xǐhuan de nàtào fáng，yǐjīng zhǔnbèi fù dìngjīn le。Wǒ hái nábudìng zhǔyì，zěnmebàn？

Xiao Li the realtor called me again, saying that another client, who has an eye for the apartment I like, is ready to pay a deposit now. I’m still hesitating. What should I do?

B: 别着急，这都是地产销售的话术，他对别的客户一定也说了同样的话。

Bié zháojí，zhè dōushì dìchǎn xiāoshòu de huàshù，tā duì biéde kèhù yīdìng yě shuō le tóngyàng de huà。

Don’t panic. This is a common hoax used by realtors. He must have said the same to push the other client.