谣言 yáoyán rumor
How to remember 谣言: 谣 rumor + 言 words = rumor.
Characters
How it is used
- A rumor - unverified, often false, circulating talk - 散布谣言 (sànbù yáoyán) to spread rumors; 谣言止于智者 (yáoyán zhǐ yú zhìzhě) rumors stop at the wise.
- Negative connotation of baseless/harmful gossip; pairs with 散布/传播 (spread) and 辟谣 (pìyáo, to refute a rumor).
- Distinct from 传闻 (chuánwén, hearsay, more neutral): 谣言 implies falsehood.
Example sentences
- 那个谣言很快传播开来。 Nàge yáoyán hěnkuài chuánbō kāilái.That rumor soon spread.
- 经过证实，谣言是真的。 Jīngguò zhèngshí, yáoyán shì zhēnde.The rumor proved to be true.
- 谣言最后被证明是假的。 Yáoyán zuìhòu bèi zhèngmíng shì jiǎ de.The rumor turned out to be false.