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绯闻 (fēi wén) — (celebrity) romantic rumor, gossip about a love affair; sex scandal (in a broader, often less severe sense)

Definition

绯闻 (fēiwén) is a 'romantic rumor' — unconfirmed gossip about a love affair. Narrower than 丑闻, which covers any kind of scandal (financial, criminal, etc.).

noun
(celebrity) romantic rumorgossip about a love affairsex scandal (in a broader, often less severe sense)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 绯闻。
    Zuì jìn yú lè quān yòu bào chū le xīn fēi wén.
    New romantic rumors have recently surfaced in the entertainment circle.
  • 绯闻。
    Tā bú yuàn yì huí yìng guān yú zì jǐ de fēi wén.
    She is unwilling to respond to the gossip about herself.
  • 绯闻。
    Méi tǐ wèi le diǎn jī liáng jīng cháng zhì zào xū jiǎ fēi wén.
    The media often fabricate false romantic rumors for clicks.

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.

绯fēired/romantic
闻wénnews/rumor

“绯” (red/romantic) and “闻” (news/rumor) combine to suggest romantic scandal 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緋; 绯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi緋fēi
Same sound today

The traditional form 緋 pairs 糸 (silk) with 非 for sound; this note is about 緋, not 绯.

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 7-9Media & NewsRomance & Marriage

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