bǔfēngzhuōyǐng: 捕风捉影 - To chase the wind and grasp at shadows; Baseless, Groundless

• Keywords: 捕风捉影, bu feng zhuo ying, Chinese idiom for baseless, Chinese idiom for unfounded rumors, groundless accusation in Chinese, chasing shadows Chinese proverb, making things up in Chinese, pure speculation, Chinese chengyu.
• Summary: 捕风捉影 (bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng) is a vivid Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe speaking or acting on baseless information. Literally meaning “to chase the wind and grasp at shadows,” it criticizes unfounded rumors, groundless accusations, and conclusions drawn from pure speculation. Understanding this common phrase is key to identifying how Chinese culture views the importance of evidence and distrusts hearsay.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom); can function as a verb or adjective.
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To make groundless accusations or speak of things without any basis in reality.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine trying to literally catch the wind in your hands or grab ahold of a shadow on the ground. It's impossible. This is the feeling of 捕风捉影. It describes any claim, idea, or accusation that has no substance or factual basis. It’s the perfect way to dismiss something as “pure conjecture,” “hearsay,” or a “wild goose chase” based on nothing.

• 捕 (bǔ): To catch, seize, or arrest.
• 风 (fēng): Wind.
• 捉 (zhuō): To grasp, clutch, or catch (often with the hand).
• 影 (yǐng): Shadow or reflection.

The idiom is a parallel structure: [Verb 1 + Noun 1], [Verb 2 + Noun 2]. “Catching the wind” and “grasping the shadow” are two metaphorically identical actions. Both are futile attempts to hold onto something intangible and unreal. Combining them creates a powerful, poetic image for any effort built on a foundation of nothing.

• Origin: The term originates from the Book of Han (《汉书》), a classical Chinese history text. It was used to describe Emperor Wu of Han's futile efforts to find mythical immortals based on unreliable and ethereal claims. This historical origin anchors the idiom in a context of criticizing belief without evidence and chasing fantasies.
• Cultural Value: 捕风捉影 reflects a deep-seated cultural value in practicality and evidence, especially when making serious claims. It is a tool to uphold social harmony by discouraging the spread of baseless gossip and rumors that could damage a person's reputation or cause social instability.
• Western Comparison: An English speaker might say someone is “clutching at straws.” However, there's a key difference. “Clutching at straws” implies a sense of desperation—making a last-ditch effort based on very weak evidence. 捕风捉影 is different; it implies there was no evidence to begin with. The person isn't desperate; they are fabricating, misinterpreting, or acting on pure fantasy. The action is seen not as desperate, but as irresponsible or foolish.

This idiom is almost always used with a negative connotation. It is a form of criticism, ranging from a gentle chiding to a serious accusation. It is versatile and appears in both formal and informal situations.

• In Daily Conversation: You might use it to tell a friend they're jumping to conclusions. For example, if your friend assumes the worst because someone didn't reply to a text, you could say, “别捕风捉影了” (Don't make something out of nothing).
• Media and News: Journalists and spokespeople frequently use this term to deny rumors or criticize speculative reporting. A company spokesperson might say, “These reports are pure 捕风捉影.”
• Formal Arguments: In a debate, a legal setting, or a business meeting, using this idiom is a powerful way to dismiss an opponent's argument as completely unsubstantiated and not worth considering.

• Example 1:
  • 网上关于那位明星的传闻，很多都是捕风捉影。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng guānyú nà wèi míngxīng de chuánwén, hěn duō dōu shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng.
  • English: A lot of the online rumors about that celebrity are completely baseless.
  • Analysis: This is a very common usage, referring to online gossip and rumors that lack any factual support.
• Example 2:
  • 你没有任何证据，不要在这里捕风捉影，冤枉好人。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ méiyǒu rènhé zhèngjù, búyào zài zhèlǐ bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, yuānwang hǎorén.
  • English: You don't have any evidence, so don't make groundless accusations here and wrong an innocent person.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used as a strong verb phrase to admonish someone for making an unfounded accusation.
• Example 3:
  • 警方办案必须讲究证据，绝不能捕风捉影。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng bàn'àn bìxū jiǎngjiu zhèngjù, jué bù néng bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng.
  • English: When handling a case, the police must rely on evidence and can absolutely not act on speculation.
  • Analysis: This shows the idiom's use in a formal, official context, emphasizing the importance of facts over conjecture.
• Example 4:
  • 她看到丈夫和女同事说了一句话，就开始捕风捉影，觉得他有外遇了。
  • Pinyin: Tā kàndào zhàngfu hé nǚ tóngshì shuōle yí jù huà, jiù kāishǐ bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng, juéde tā yǒu wàiyù le.
  • English: She saw her husband say one sentence to a female colleague and immediately started grasping at shadows, thinking he was having an affair.
  • Analysis: A classic example from daily life, describing someone jumping to a wild conclusion based on almost nothing.
• Example 5:
  • 所谓的“健康建议”很多都是捕风捉影的说法，没有科学依据。
  • Pinyin: Suǒwèi de “jiànkāng jiànyì” hěn duō dōu shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng de shuōfǎ, méiyǒu kēxué yījù.
  • English: A lot of so-called “health advice” is just groundless talk with no scientific basis.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 捕风捉影 functions as an adjective modifying “说法” (saying, statement).
• Example 6:
  • 这份报告充满了个人猜测，简直是在捕风捉影。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào chōngmǎnle gèrén cāicè, jiǎnzhí shì zài bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng.
  • English: This report is full of personal speculation; it's simply chasing shadows.
  • Analysis: “简直是” (jiǎnzhí shì - simply is) is often used to emphasize the degree of baselessness.
• Example 7:
  • A: 我觉得老板今天看我的眼神不对，他是不是要解雇我？ B: 别捕风捉影了，他可能只是累了。
  • Pinyin: A: Wǒ juéde lǎobǎn jīntiān kàn wǒ de yǎnshén búduì, tā shì bu shì yào jiěgù wǒ? B: Bié bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng le, tā kěnéng zhǐshì lèi le.
  • English: A: I feel like the way the boss looked at me today was weird. Is he going to fire me? B: Stop making things up. He's probably just tired.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using the phrase to calm someone down who is being paranoid or overthinking.
• Example 8:
  • 这家报纸以捕风捉影的新闻来吸引读者。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bàozhǐ yǐ bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng de xīnwén lái xīyǐn dúzhě.
  • English: This newspaper uses sensational, baseless stories to attract readers.
  • Analysis: Describes the practice of tabloid journalism.
• Example 9:
  • 在没有确切消息之前，我们所有的讨论都只是捕风捉影。
  • Pinyin: Zài méiyǒu quèqiè xiāoxi zhīqián, wǒmen suǒyǒu de tǎolùn dōu zhǐshì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng.
  • English: Before we have definite news, all of our discussion is just speculation.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a more neutral, self-aware way to describe the nature of a conversation.
• Example 10:
  • 他的指控不过是捕风捉影罢了，根本站不住脚。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhǐkòng búguò shì bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng bàle, gēnběn zhàn bu zhù jiǎo.
  • English: His accusation is nothing more than chasing shadows; it can't hold water at all.
  • Analysis: The structure “不过是…罢了” (búguò shì…bàle - is nothing but/merely) frames the accusation as trivial and baseless. “站不住脚” (zhàn bu zhù jiǎo - can't stand on its own feet) is a common follow-up phrase.

• It's Not Just “Being Wrong”: A common mistake is to use 捕风捉影 for any incorrect statement. This idiom is specific: it applies to statements that were formed with no factual basis from the start. If someone analyzes data incorrectly and gets the wrong answer, they are mistaken, but they are not necessarily doing 捕风捉影. If they invent the data, they are.
• Don't Confuse with Exaggeration: 捕风捉影 is different from 夸大其词 (kuādà qící), which means “to exaggerate.” Exaggeration starts with a grain of truth and blows it out of proportion (e.g., seeing one mouse and claiming the house is infested). 捕风捉影 starts with nothing at all.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Situation: It is cloudy outside. Person A says, “I think it's going to rain.”
  • Incorrect Response: “你这是捕风捉影！” (You're just chasing shadows!)
  • Why it's wrong: Person A has a piece of evidence (the clouds). Their conclusion might be wrong, but it's not completely baseless. A correct scenario for 捕风捉影 would be if the sky were perfectly clear and Person A insisted it was going to rain because they “had a feeling.”

• 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) - To create something out of nothing. A very close synonym, but often with a stronger implication of malicious invention or fabrication.
• 空穴来风 (kōng xué lái fēng) - Lit. “wind comes from an empty cave.” Its original meaning is that a rumor must have some basis, however small (just as wind in a cave must have an origin). However, in modern usage, it is now commonly and mistakenly used to mean “baseless rumor,” making it a synonym for 捕风捉影. Be aware of both meanings.
• 道听途说 (dào tīng tú shuō) - Hearsay; information heard on the street. This term describes the source of the baseless information (gossip), while 捕风捉影 describes the action of making claims based on it.
• 子虚乌有 (zǐ xū wū yǒu) - Utterly fictitious; a complete fabrication. Refers to things that are completely non-existent. It's often used to describe the subject matter itself, while 捕风捉影 describes the act of pursuing it.
• 实事求是 (shí shì qiú shì) - To seek truth from facts; to be practical and realistic. This is a perfect antonym, representing the mindset that counters 捕风捉影. It's a highly valued principle in Chinese society.
• 谣言 (yáoyán) - Rumor, gossip. A rumor is often the product of someone's 捕风捉影.