闲言闲语 (xián yán xián yǔ) — gossip, idle talk, rumors (often malicious)

Definition

A set phrase for 'idle gossip' or 'malicious rumors' — repeated casual talk that is unfounded. The reduplication 闲…闲… emphasizes the idle, pointless nature of the chatter.

idiom
gossipidle talkrumors (often malicious)

Examples

  • 闲言闲语，。
    Bú yào tīng xìn bié rén de xián yán xián yǔ, yào xiāng xìn zì jǐ de pàn duàn.
    Don't believe the gossip from others; trust your own judgment.
  • 闲言闲语，。
    Gōng sī lǐ zuì jìn yǒu hěn duō xián yán xián yǔ, zuì hǎo bié cān yù tǎo lùn.
    There's been a lot of gossip at the company lately; better not join the discussion.
  • 闲言闲语，。
    Tā duì zhè xiē xián yán xián yǔ gēn běn bú zài yì, jì xù zuò zì jǐ de shì.
    She doesn't care about the gossip at all and just keeps doing her own thing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

闲言idle talk
闲xiánidle言yánwords
偏正Modifier + head
闲语idle words
闲xiánidle语yǔwords
偏正Modifier + head

闲言 (idle talk) and 闲语 (idle words) stand together to mean gossip.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閒; 闲 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 閒 puts 月 (moon) inside 門 (door), as if moonlight peeks through a door; this picture gives the idea of a gap or space. The simplified 闲 is a later abbreviation.

Open 闲 →

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閒; 闲 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 閒 puts 月 (moon) inside 門 (door), as if moonlight peeks through a door; this picture gives the idea of a gap or space. The simplified 闲 is a later abbreviation.

Open 闲 →

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 →

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