诽 (fěi) — (bound form) to slander, to defame

Definition

诽 (fěi) is a bound form meaning 'to slander or defame,' almost always used with 谤 to form the set phrase 诽谤 ('to libel/defame'). On its own it does not stand alone as a word.

bound form
to slanderto defame
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Fǎ lǜ yán jìn fěi bàng tā rén.
    The law strictly prohibits slandering others.
  • 。
    Zhè qǐ fěi bàng àn yǐn qǐ le shè huì guān zhù.
    This libel case has attracted social attention.
  • ，。
    Tā bèi rén è yì fěi bàng, míng yù shòu sǔn.
    He was maliciously slandered and his reputation was harmed.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 誹; 诽 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi誹fěi
Same sound today

The traditional form 誹 is made of 言, which is about speech, and 非, which gives the sound; the simplified 诽 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

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