流言蜚语 — “Groundless rumors and malicious gossip”
流言蜚语 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Groundless rumors and malicious gossip”. Often spread behind one's back with an intent to defame or slander. Literally, “Floating words, flying slanders”.
流言蜚语 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 流liú
- 言yán
- 蜚fēi
- 语yǔ
流言蜚语 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 流言蜚语
Origin and Story of 流言蜚语
In 131 BCE, Tian Fen, the Marquis of Anwu, married the daughter of the King of Yan. Dou Ying, the Marquis of Weiqi, who had fallen out of favor, and General Guan Fu were commanded by the Empress Dowager to attend the congratulatory banquet.
When Guan Fu offered a toast, Tian Fen and his followers deliberately ignored him. Enraged, Guan Fu loudly cursed them.
Tian Fen then had Guan Fu's entire family apprehended. The Empress Dowager later intervened, coercing for Guan Fu to be executed.
Dou Ying was also eventually killed, a victim of the groundless rumors and malicious gossip spread against him.
Idioms Related to 流言蜚语
Synonyms of 流言蜚语
More idioms starting with 流
- liú流guāng光yì易shì逝Time flies swiftly
- liú流guāng光shùn瞬xī息time flies quickly
- liú流kǒu口cháng常tán谈a common saying
- liú流tiān天chè澈dì地Vast and overwhelming flood
- liú流dàng宕wàng忘fǎn反Wander far from home and forget to return
- liú流nián年bù不lì利unfavorable year
- liú流nián年sì似shuǐ水years flow by like water
- liú流xīng星chè掣diàn电as swift as a meteor and lightning
- liú流xīng星gǎn赶yuè月move with lightning speed
- liú流xīng星fēi飞diàn电extremely swift and rapid
- liú流shuǐ水bù不fǔ腐，，hù户shū枢bù不lóu蝼Constant use prevents decay
- liú流shuǐ水bù不fǔ腐，，hù户shū枢bù不dù蠹Constant activity prevents decay
Questions about 流言蜚语
- What does 流言蜚语 mean?
- 流言蜚语 (liú yán fēi yǔ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Groundless rumors and malicious gossip”.
- How do you pronounce 流言蜚语?
- 流言蜚语 is pronounced liú yán fēi yǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 流言蜚语 literally mean?
- Literally, 流言蜚语 means “Floating words, flying slanders”. It is used to mean “Groundless rumors and malicious gossip”.
- Where does 流言蜚语 come from?
- 流言蜚语 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 流言蜚语?
- 毫无根据的话。指背后散布的诽谤性的坏话。