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沸沸扬扬 (fèi fèi yáng yáng) — (idiom) abuzz; in a state of widespread discussion or rumor

Definition

A vivid chengyu describing rumors or discussions spreading everywhere with noisy excitement — like 'the story is all over the place'. Usually used as a complement after verbs like 议论, 传, or 讨论 (议论得沸沸扬扬).

idiom
abuzzin a state of widespread discussion or rumor

Examples

  • 沸沸扬扬。
    Zhè jiàn shì zài gōng sī lǐ bèi yì lùn dé fèi fèi yáng yáng.
    This matter is being discussed heatedly in the company.
  • 沸沸扬扬，。
    Nà ge xiāo xi chuán dé fèi fèi yáng yáng, dà jiā dōu zhī dào le.
    That news spread like wildfire, and everyone knows about it.
  • 沸沸扬扬。
    Wǎng shàng guān yú zhè ge shì jiàn tǎo lùn dé fèi fèi yáng yáng.
    Online discussions about this incident are in full swing.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

沸沸boiling
沸fèiboiling沸fèiboiling
重叠Reduplication
扬扬rising
扬yángrising扬yángrising
重叠Reduplication

沸沸 “boiling” and 扬扬 “rising” repeat to convey a bubbling, spreading noise.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú沸fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沸 pairs 氵, the water part, with 弗, which gives it its sound.

Open 沸 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú沸fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沸 pairs 氵, the water part, with 弗, which gives it its sound.

Open 沸 →

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 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng揚
Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

Open 扬 →

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 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng揚
Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

Open 扬 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

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