Definition
子虚乌有 is a four-character idiom (成语) that means something is completely fictitious or has no basis in reality. It originates from a Han dynasty rhapsody by Sima Xiangru, where 子虚 (Master Void) and 乌有 (Nothingness) were imaginary figures. The phrase is often used as a predicate or attributive to dismiss a claim as mere fiction.
id.
sheer fictionsomething completely made upimaginary
Examples
- 子虚乌有，。Tā shuō de nà jiàn shì wánquán shì zǐ xū wū, gēnběn méiyǒu fāshēng.That thing he said is completely fictitious; it never happened.
- 子虚乌有。Zhè lèi zǐ xū wū de chuányán zài wǎngluò shàng liúchuán hěn kuài.This kind of groundless rumor spreads quickly online.
- 子虚乌有，。Búyào xiāngxìn nàxiē zǐ xū wū de gùshi, dōu shì biānzào de.Don't believe those fabricated stories; they are all made up.
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