liúyán fēiyǔ: 流言蜚语 - Gossip, Rumors, Slander

• Keywords: liuyanfeiyu, 流言蜚语, Chinese gossip, Chinese rumor, slander in Chinese, what does liuyanfeiyu mean, chengyu for rumor, malicious gossip, spreading rumors, Chinese idioms
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural significance of the Chinese idiom 流言蜚语 (liúyán fēiyǔ). This guide explains how this term for “malicious gossip, rumors, and slander” is more than just idle chat; it's a serious cultural concept tied to reputation and social harmony. Discover its character origins, practical usage in modern China, and how it differs from words like “gossip” (八卦, bāguà) and “rumor” (谣言, yáoyán).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liúyán fēiyǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun (Chengyu / Idiom)
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced Chengyu)
• Concise Definition: Malicious gossip, harmful rumors, and baseless slander.
• In a Nutshell: 流言蜚语 (liúyán fēiyǔ) isn't just “gossip.” It's a powerful four-character idiom that specifically refers to rumors that are unfounded, spread with ill intent, and designed to damage a person's reputation. The term carries a strong negative and condemnatory feeling. Think of it as the kind of talk that ruins careers, friendships, and public image—what we might call “slanderous rumors” in English.

• 流 (liú): To flow, to drift, or to circulate. Imagine water flowing in a river.
• 言 (yán): Words, speech, or talk.
• 蜚 (fēi): An old character, often used to mean “to fly” (like 飞 fēi). It can also refer to a type of pest, adding to the negative feeling.
• 语 (yǔ): Language, words, or speech.

These characters combine to create a vivid picture: “flowing words and flying speech.” This imagery powerfully conveys how rumors spread uncontrollably and quickly from person to person, like a river flooding or insects swarming.

In Chinese culture, where social harmony and personal reputation—面子 (miànzi) or “face”—are extremely important, 流言蜚语 (liúyán fēiyǔ) is a deeply serious concept. It's not seen as trivial chatter but as a direct and malicious attack on someone's social standing and integrity. To be the subject of 流言蜚语 can have devastating real-world consequences. A common Western concept like “gossip” can sometimes be harmless or even a form of social bonding. In contrast, 流言蜚语 is *never* positive or neutral. It is inherently destructive. The cultural weight behind this is captured in another famous idiom: 人言可畏 (rényán kěwèi), which means “human words are to be feared” or “gossip is a fearful thing.” This highlights a deep-seated cultural understanding that unchecked rumors can be as damaging as a physical weapon. Therefore, spreading 流言蜚语 is seen as a major moral failing.

This term is used frequently in situations involving reputation damage.

• Office Politics: It's perfect for describing the backstabbing and rumors that can occur in a competitive workplace.
• Celebrity Culture: When a celebrity is hit with a scandal, news outlets and official statements will often use 流言蜚语 to deny the allegations and condemn the source of the rumors.
• Social Media & Cyberbullying: With the rise of the internet, 流言蜚语 is often used to describe online disinformation campaigns, character assassination, and the rapid spread of false, harmful information about individuals.

Crucially, you use this term to *condemn* or *warn against* rumors, not to participate in them. You would say, “Don't listen to the 流言蜚语,” not “Let me tell you some 流言蜚语.”

• Example 1:
  • 别理会那些流言蜚语，专心做好你自己的事。
  • Pinyin: Bié lǐhuì nàxiē liúyán fēiyǔ, zhuānxīn zuò hǎo nǐ zìjǐ de shì.
  • English: Don't pay attention to that malicious gossip, just focus on doing your own thing well.
  • Analysis: This is a common way to advise someone who is the target of rumors, telling them to ignore the negativity.
• Example 2:
  • 很多流言蜚语都是无中生有的，完全不可信。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō liúyán fēiyǔ dōu shì wú zhōng shēng yǒu de, wánquán bù kě xìn.
  • English: A lot of slanderous rumors are fabricated from thin air and are completely unbelievable.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the baseless nature of the rumors. It pairs the term with another idiom, 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu), meaning “to create something from nothing.”
• Example 3:
  • 这位明星的经纪公司发表声明，谴责了关于他私生活的流言蜚语。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi míngxīng de jīngjì gōngsī fābiǎo shēngmíng, qiǎnzéle guānyú tā sīshēnghuó de liúyán fēiyǔ.
  • English: The celebrity's management agency issued a statement condemning the malicious rumors about his private life.
  • Analysis: A typical example from the world of entertainment news, showing the formal use of the term in public relations.
• Example 4:
  • 办公室里充满了流言蜚语，工作环境很差。
  • Pinyin: Bàngōngshì lǐ chōngmǎnle liúyán fēiyǔ, gōngzuò huánjìng hěn chà.
  • English: The office is full of harmful gossip, and the work environment is very poor.
  • Analysis: This describes a toxic workplace environment caused by rumors and backstabbing.
• Example 5:
  • 她因为不堪流言蜚语的困扰而辞职了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi bùkān liúyán fēiyǔ de kùnrǎo ér cízhíle.
  • English: She resigned because she couldn't bear the torment of the slanderous rumors.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the serious, real-world consequences that 流言蜚语 can have on a person's life and career.
• Example 6:
  • 在信息时代，流言蜚语的传播速度比以往任何时候都快。
  • Pinyin: Zài xìnxī shídài, liúyán fēiyǔ de chuánbō sùdù bǐ yǐwǎng rènhé shíhòu dōu kuài.
  • English: In the information age, malicious rumors spread faster than ever before.
  • Analysis: This connects the traditional idiom to the modern context of the internet and social media.
• Example 7:
  • 面对流言蜚语，我们应该保持冷静，用事实说话。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì liúyán fēiyǔ, wǒmen yīnggāi bǎochí lěngjìng, yòng shìshí shuōhuà.
  • English: When faced with slander, we should remain calm and speak with facts.
  • Analysis: This provides advice on the best way to counteract the harm of rumors.
• Example 8:
  • 他这个人就喜欢在背后散布流言蜚语，你离他远点。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhège rén jiù xǐhuān zài bèihòu sànbù liúyán fēiyǔ, nǐ lí tā yuǎn diǎn.
  • English: That person loves to spread malicious gossip behind people's backs; you should stay away from him.
  • Analysis: This sentence is a warning about a person's bad character, using the act of spreading 流言蜚语 as evidence.
• Example 9:
  • 无论流言蜚语怎么说，我都选择相信我的朋友。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn liúyán fēiyǔ zěnme shuō, wǒ dōu xuǎnzé xiāngxìn wǒ de péngyǒu.
  • English: No matter what the vicious rumors say, I choose to believe my friend.
  • Analysis: This shows a strong statement of loyalty in the face of public criticism or gossip.
• Example 10:
  • 清者自清，浊者自浊，时间会证明一切，让那些流言蜚语不攻自破。
  • Pinyin: Qīng zhě zì qīng, zhuó zhě zì zhuó, shíjiān huì zhèngmíng yīqiè, ràng nàxiē liúyán fēiyǔ bù gōng zì pò.
  • English: The innocent will prove themselves innocent, the corrupt will prove themselves corrupt; time will prove everything and let those rumors collapse on their own.
  • Analysis: A very classic, philosophical response to being slandered, expressing confidence that the truth will eventually prevail without direct confrontation.

• False Friends: “Gossip” and “Rumor”

A common mistake for English speakers is to treat 流言蜚语 as a direct equivalent of “gossip” or “rumor.”

• Gossip (八卦, bāguà): This is often lighthearted, trivial, and can be for entertainment (e.g., celebrity gossip). It lacks the malicious, reputation-destroying intent of 流言蜚语.
• Rumor (谣言, yáoyán): This is a more general term for an unverified story. While often negative, a 谣言 isn't necessarily intended to be malicious. 流言蜚语 is a *type* of 谣言 that is specifically personal, nasty, and slanderous.
• Common Pitfall: Using it to Participate in Gossip

You cannot use this term to say you want to share a rumor. It is used exclusively to label and condemn rumors.

• Incorrect: ~~我想告诉你一个流言蜚语。~~ (Wǒ xiǎng gàosù nǐ yīgè liúyán fēiyǔ.) → This sounds like you're saying, “I want to tell you a piece of malicious slander,” which is a very strange and self-incriminating thing to say.
• Correct (for light gossip): 我想告诉你一个八卦。(Wǒ xiǎng gàosù nǐ yīgè bāguà.) → “I want to tell you a piece of gossip.”
• Correct (for a general rumor): 我听到了一个谣言。(Wǒ tīngdàole yīgè yáoyán.) → “I heard a rumor.”

• 八卦 (bāguà) - Gossip, especially lighthearted or celebrity-focused. The fun, less harmful cousin of 流言蜚语.
• 谣言 (yáoyán) - Rumor. A more general and neutral term for an unverified report.
• 诽谤 (fěibàng) - To slander, defame. A more formal and legalistic verb.
• 中伤 (zhòngshāng) - To slander, to maliciously attack with words. A verb that describes the action of creating 流言蜚语.
• 说三道四 (shuō sān dào sì) - To gossip, to make irresponsible remarks. An idiom describing the *act* of gossiping carelessly.
• 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) - To create something from nothing. An idiom used to describe how 流言蜚语 is often completely fabricated.
• 人言可畏 (rényán kěwèi) - “Gossip is a fearful thing.” A chengyu that explains the cultural fear of the damage caused by rumors.
• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; social standing, reputation. This is the primary target of attacks via 流言蜚语.