以讹传讹 (yǐ é chuán é) — to spread errors, each time making them worse; to pass on misinformation, compounding the original mistake

Definition

An idiom meaning misinformation grows worse each time it's passed on: a false claim is repeated and distorted, so the error compounds with every retelling. Used in writing or news commentary rather than everyday speech.

idiom
to spread errorseach time making them worseto pass on misinformationcompounding the original mistake

Examples

  • 以讹传讹，。
    Wǎng luò shàng de xiāo xi cháng cháng yǐ é chuán é, zuì hòu biàn de wán quán bù yí yàng.
    News on the internet often gets distorted as it's passed along, ending up completely different.
  • 以讹传讹，。
    Bú yào yǐ é chuán é, yīng gāi xiān chá qīng chǔ shì shí zài shuō.
    Don't spread errors — you should verify the facts first before speaking.
  • 以讹传讹，。
    Zhè ge yáo yán yǐ é chuán é, hài dé hěn duō rén xiāng xìn le jiǎ xiāo xi.
    This rumor was passed on with errors, causing many people to believe false information.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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 訛; 讹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà訛é
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 訛 pairs 言, speech, with 化 as the sound part; the simplified 讹 is a later shorthand.

Open 讹 →

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 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

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 訛; 讹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà訛é
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 訛 pairs 言, speech, with 化 as the sound part; the simplified 讹 is a later shorthand.

Open 讹 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.