Chinese word

传闻

Pronunciation

Pinyinchuán wén

Meaning

  • nounrumor

Example

传闻很快在学校里传开了。chuán wén hěn kuài zài xué xiào lǐ chuán kāi le

The rumor quickly spread throughout the school.

Illustration for 传闻 (rumor)

More examples

民间传闻有时夸大事实。mín jiān chuán wén yǒu shí kuā dà shì shí

Folk rumors sometimes exaggerate the facts.

Core concept

Information passes from one person to another before anyone can establish whether it is true.

Common phrases

  • 民间传闻mín jiān chuán wén

    folk rumor

  • 传闻不断chuán wén bú duàn

    rumors abound

Similar words

谣言yáo yán: A baseless and false rumor that may harm people.
传言chuán yán: A report heard from others and passed on before its truth is confirmed.
流言liú yán: An unsupported rumor that spreads quickly among people.
风闻fēng wén: A rumor heard indirectly from a distant or unknown source, with its truth unclear.

Definition in Chinese

通过口头传递的、未必真实的消息或说法。tōng guò kǒu tóu chuán dì de wèi bì zhēn shí de xiāo xī huò shuō fǎ

Word origin

传闻 (chuánwén, "circulating hearsay") combines 传 (chuán, "pass on") + 闻 (wén, "hear or learn"), presenting a report as something heard and passed along rather than verified.

Usage tips

  • This word fits informal reports passed among people in places such as schools and workplaces, not only dramatic claims in news stories.

Other meanings

  • hearsaynoun
  • gossipnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word