====== wújīzhītán: 无稽之谈 - Nonsense, Baseless Rumor, Unfounded Talk ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** wujiztitan, 无稽之谈, Chinese idiom for nonsense, unfounded talk, baseless rumor, Chinese chengyu, how to say nonsense in Chinese, 无稽之谈 meaning, 无稽之谈 examples, groundless accusation.
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and use of **无稽之谈 (wú jī zhī tán)**, a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) for describing something as 'complete nonsense' or a 'baseless rumor'. This guide provides a deep dive into its characters, cultural context, and practical examples, helping you master this formal term to dismiss unfounded talk like an educated native speaker.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wú jī zhī tán
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun Phrase / Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ)
  * **HSK Level:** Advanced (equivalent to HSK 6+)
  * **Concise Definition:** A statement, story, or rumor that is completely unfounded and has no basis in fact.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **无稽之谈 (wú jī zhī tán)** as the formal, powerful way to say "that's a load of nonsense" or "that's a groundless rumor." It's not just casual disbelief; it carries the weight of a firm, intellectual dismissal, implying the statement is so absurd it's not even worth investigating. It’s a very strong way to shut down misinformation or silly ideas, especially in more formal settings.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **无 (wú):** without; no; not having. A fundamental character for negation.
  * **稽 (jī):** to check; to examine; to investigate; a basis or foundation. Here, it means a source or basis that can be verified.
  * **之 (zhī):** a classical grammatical particle that connects words, similar to the modern 的 (de) or the English "'s" or "of". It links the preceding attribute to the succeeding noun.
  * **谈 (tán):** talk; conversation; statement.
Putting them together, **无稽之谈 (wú jī zhī tán)** literally translates to "talk (谈) of (之) no (无) basis/verifiability (稽)". It paints a vivid picture of a statement that completely lacks a foundation upon which any investigation could even begin.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
As a //chengyu// (成语), **无稽之谈** originates from classical Chinese literature, which gives it a formal, educated, and authoritative tone. Using it demonstrates a higher level of language proficiency and is common in written texts, news reports, official statements, and debates.
It reflects a cultural value placed on evidence and substance, particularly in formal discourse. To label an argument or rumor as **无稽之谈** is not just to disagree with it, but to attack its very foundation and dismiss it as intellectually worthless.
**Comparison to a Western Concept:**
While you might translate it as "nonsense" or "conspiracy theory," there's a key difference.
  * **"Nonsense"** in English can be playful or refer to something simply illogical. **无稽之谈** is never playful; it's a serious and strong condemnation.
  * **"Conspiracy Theory"** is a specific type of baseless claim. **无稽之谈** is a broader judgment that can be applied to //any// unfounded statement, from a political accusation to a silly superstition or a flimsy excuse. It functions less as a label for a category of belief and more as a direct verdict on a specific statement.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
This term is versatile but carries a formal weight.
  * **In Formal Settings:** It's frequently used by officials, spokespeople, and media outlets to debunk rumors or discredit accusations. For example, a company spokesperson might say, "Reports of our bankruptcy are **无稽之谈**."
  * **In Educated Conversation:** Among friends, an educated person might use it to strongly refute a piece of gossip or a pseudoscientific claim. It's a bit of an overkill for very casual chats, where a simpler term like **瞎说 (xiāshuō)** might be used.
  * **On Social Media:** It often appears in comment sections or posts where users are debating a topic seriously, especially when trying to debunk misinformation with a tone of authority.
Its connotation is always negative and dismissive. You use it to shut a conversation down, not to open one up.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 关于公司要倒闭的传言纯属**无稽之谈**。
    * Pinyin: Guānyú gōngsī yào dǎobì de chuányán chún shǔ **wú jī zhī tán**.
    * English: The rumors about the company going bankrupt are pure nonsense.
    * Analysis: This is a classic, formal use case. "纯属" (chún shǔ), meaning "purely is," strengthens the dismissal.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他说外星人控制着政府，这简直是**无稽之谈**！
    * Pinyin: Tā shuō wàixīngrén kòngzhìzhe zhèngfǔ, zhè jiǎnzhí shì **wú jī zhī tán**!
    * English: He said aliens control the government, that's simply nonsense!
    * Analysis: Here, it's used to express strong personal disbelief towards an absurd claim. "简直是" (jiǎnzhí shì) means "is simply" or "is practically," emphasizing the absurdity.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 那些指控完全是**无稽之谈**，没有任何证据。
    * Pinyin: Nàxiē zhǐkòng wánquán shì **wú jī zhī tán**, méiyǒu rènhé zhèngjù.
    * English: Those accusations are complete nonsense, without any evidence.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the core meaning of the idiom—the lack of evidence (证据, zhèngjù).
  * **Example 4:**
    * A: 我听说吃西瓜籽会在肚子里长出西瓜树。
    * B: **无稽之谈**！那是骗小孩的。
    * Pinyin: A: Wǒ tīngshuō chī xīguā zǐ huì zài dùzi lǐ zhǎng chū xīguā shù. B: **Wú jī zhī tán**! Nà shì piàn xiǎohái de.
    * English: A: I heard that if you eat watermelon seeds, a watermelon tree will grow in your stomach. B: Nonsense! That's just something you tell kids.
    * Analysis: Can be used as a standalone exclamation to immediately and forcefully reject an idea.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 认为数字“4”会带来厄运的想法在许多人看来是**无稽之谈**。
    * Pinyin: Rènwéi shùzì “sì” huì dàilái èyùn de xiǎngfǎ zài xǔduō rén kànlái shì **wú jī zhī tán**.
    * English: The idea that the number "4" brings bad luck is considered nonsense by many people.
    * Analysis: Used here to describe a superstition or folk belief as being groundless from a rational perspective.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他迟到的理由听起来完全是**无稽之谈**。
    * Pinyin: Tā chídào de lǐyóu tīngqǐlái wánquán shì **wú jī zhī tán**.
    * English: His reason for being late sounded like a complete cock-and-bull story.
    * Analysis: A perfect translation for dismissing a flimsy, unbelievable excuse (理由, lǐyóu).
  * **Example 7:**
    * 你的论点没有任何数据支持，简直就是**无稽之谈**。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ de lùndiǎn méiyǒu rènhé shùjù zhīchí, jiǎnzhí jiùshì **wú jī zhī tán**.
    * English: Your argument has no data to support it; it's practically baseless talk.
    * Analysis: A powerful phrase in a debate or academic setting to attack the foundation of an opponent's argument (论点, lùndiǎn).
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这本书记载了许多历史上的**无稽之谈**，需要读者加以辨别。
    * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū jìzǎile xǔduō lìshǐ shàng de **wú jī zhī tán**, xūyào dúzhě jiāyǐ biànbié.
    * English: This book records many historical myths and baseless tales, requiring readers to be discerning.
    * Analysis: Here, it's used to refer to historical myths or unverified anecdotes as a category of information.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 不要相信网上的那些**无稽之谈**，要学会独立思考。
    * Pinyin: Búyào xiāngxìn wǎngshàng de nàxiē **wú jī zhī tán**, yào xuéhuì dúlì sīkǎo.
    * English: Don't believe that nonsense on the internet; you need to learn to think for yourself.
    * Analysis: A very common modern usage, advising someone to be critical of online misinformation.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 关于他们分手的八卦不过是**无稽之谈**，我昨天还看见他们在一起。
    * Pinyin: Guānyú tāmen fēnshǒu de bāguà búguò shì **wú jī zhī tán**, wǒ zuótiān hái kànjiàn tāmen zài yīqǐ.
    * English: The gossip about them breaking up is just a baseless rumor; I saw them together yesterday.
    * Analysis: Shows how to use the idiom to authoritatively shut down gossip (八卦, bāguà) by providing counter-evidence.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Not for Simple Lies:** A common mistake is to use **无稽之谈** for a simple, plausible lie. It's reserved for claims that are not just untrue, but *absurdly and fundamentally baseless*.
    *   **Lie (谎话, huǎnghuà):** "I was at the library." (This is plausible, just untrue).
    *   **无稽之谈:** "The library was abducted by aliens, so I couldn't go." (This is fundamentally groundless and absurd).
  * **Grammatical Usage:** It functions as a noun phrase, almost always as the predicate in a sentence: "[Something] **is** 无稽之谈" (是**无稽之谈**). It's awkward to use it as a direct object that someone "tells."
    *   **Incorrect:** 他昨天对我说了个**无稽之谈**。 (Tā zuótiān duì wǒ shuō le ge wú jī zhī tán.)
    *   **Correct:** 他昨天说的话是**无稽之谈**。 (Tā zuótiān shuō de huà shì wú jī zhī tán.) - "What he said yesterday was nonsense."
  * **Formality:** While it's understood by most, using it in a very casual chat with friends might sound overly dramatic or stuffy. For that, a more colloquial term is better.
    *   **Formal:** 这种说法是**无稽之谈**。(This statement is nonsense.)
    *   **Informal:** 别**瞎说**了！ (Bié **xiāshuō** le!) - "Stop talking nonsense!"
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[子虚乌有]] (zǐ xū wū yǒu)** - Purely fictitious, fabricated. A very close synonym and fellow //chengyu//, often used interchangeably with **无稽之谈**.
  * **[[胡说八道]] (hú shuō bā dào)** - To talk utter nonsense; gibberish. This is more colloquial and focuses on the chaotic, nonsensical nature of the speech rather than its lack of a verifiable basis.
  * **[[瞎说]] (xiāshuō)** - (v.) To talk nonsense, speak blindly. A very common and informal verb for "making stuff up."
  * **[[谣言]] (yáoyán)** - (n.) A rumor. This is the neutral noun for the piece of information itself. **无稽之谈** is the //judgment// you pass on that rumor.
  * **[[捕风捉影]] (bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng)** - Lit. "to chase the wind and clutch at shadows." Describes the act of making groundless accusations or assumptions based on flimsy evidence.
  * **[[信口开河]] (xìn kǒu kāi hé)** - To let one's mouth run on; to speak irresponsibly without thinking. This idiom focuses more on the speaker's carelessness than the content of the talk.
  * **[[空穴来风]] (kōng xué lái fēng)** - A fascinating term often misused to mean "baseless rumor." Its classical meaning is the opposite: "wind doesn't come from an empty cave," implying every rumor has some origin. This makes it a great point of contrast with **无稽之谈**.