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丑闻 (chǒu wén) — scandal

Definition

丑闻 is a serious scandal — typically political, corporate, or moral wrongdoing exposed publicly. 绯闻 is lighter celebrity gossip, usually about romance, not wrongdoing.

noun
scandal

Examples

  • 丑闻。
    Zhè qǐ zhèng zhì chǒu wén yǐn fā le yì chǎng wēi jī.
    This political scandal triggered a crisis.
  • 丑闻。
    Nà jiā gōng sī de chǒu wén bèi méi tǐ bào dào le.
    That company's scandal was reported by the media.
  • 丑闻。
    Tā yīn wèi yí gè gè rén chǒu wén bèi pò cí zhí.
    He was forced to resign because of a personal scandal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

丑chǒushameful
闻wénnews

“丑” marks something shameful and “闻” means news, so a shameful news story.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 醜; 丑 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 丑 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 醜; in others (丑) it is 丑.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
鬼鬼guǐghost, demon
Sound part声符shēngfú
酉
酉yǒu醜chǒu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 醜 uses 鬼, a ghost or demon, to show ugliness and 酉 for sound; that shape is about 醜, not about 丑.

Open 丑 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聞; 闻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén聞wén
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 聞, 門 supplies the sound and 耳 is an ear; this explanation is about 聞, not the simplified 闻.

Open 闻 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Society & Public Life

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