TongTong
Sign in

流言蜚语 (liú yán fēi yǔ) — rumors and slanders; malicious gossip

Definition

A four-character idiom for harmful rumors and slander — more literary and more vicious than everyday words like 谣言. Refers to damaging gossip that spreads widely, not casual chatter.

idiom
rumors and slandersmalicious gossip

Examples

  • 流言蜚语，。
    Bú yào xiāng xìn nà xiē liú yán fēi yǔ, tā shì gè hǎo rén.
    Don't believe those rumors; she is a good person.
  • 流言蜚语，。
    Gōng sī lǐ zuì jìn yǒu hěn duō liú yán fēi yǔ, yǐng xiǎng hěn bù hǎo.
    There has been a lot of malicious gossip in the company lately, and it's having a very bad impact.
  • 流言蜚语，。
    Miàn duì liú yán fēi yǔ, tā xuǎn zé yòng shì shí shuō huà.
    Faced with rumors and slanders, he chose to let facts speak.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

流言rumors
流liúflowing言yánwords
偏正Modifier + head
蜚语slander
蜚fēiflying语yǔwords
偏正Modifier + head

流言 pictures flowing words and 蜚语 pictures flying words, so together they mean malicious gossip.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 蜚 →

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →
Appears in
Communication & SpeechIdioms & Set Phrases

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