'伪装' (wěi zhuāng) literally combines '伪' (wěi), meaning 'false' or 'fake', and '装' (zhuāng), meaning 'to dress', 'to attire', or 'to pretend'. Together, they form a compound meaning 'disguise' — either as a noun (the false appearance itself) or as a verb (the act of disguising). It emphasizes intentional deception, often for concealment, protection, or subterfuge.

This word is frequently used in biological contexts — for example, when animals evolve coloration or behavior to blend into their environment (camouflage) — but also appears in military, espionage, and everyday figurative usage (e.g., pretending to be someone else). Unlike neutral terms like '打扮' (to dress up), '伪装' carries a connotation of concealment or misrepresentation, sometimes with negative or strategic overtones.