Chinese word

沸沸扬扬

Pronunciation

Pinyinfèi fèi yáng yáng

Meaning

  • idiombe abuzz

Example

这条新闻一出，网上就沸沸扬扬。zhè tiáo xīn wén yì chū wǎng shàng jiù fèi fèi yáng yáng

As soon as this news came out, the internet was abuzz.

Illustration for 沸沸扬扬 (be abuzz)

More examples

关于这件事，校园里传得沸沸扬扬。guān yú zhè jiàn shì xiào yuán lǐ chuán de fèi fèi yáng yáng

The whole campus was abuzz with talk about this matter.

Core concept

A whole community seems to bubble and surge as one topic spreads from person to person.

Common phrases

  • 沸沸扬扬起来fèi fèi yáng yáng qǐ lái

    become abuzz

  • 沸沸扬扬的评论fèi fèi yáng yáng de píng lùn

    uproarious comments

  • 沸沸扬扬的议论fèi fèi yáng yáng de yì lùn

    uproarious discussion

Similar words

议论纷纷yì lùn fēn fēn: Describes a situation in which people offer many different opinions or criticisms.
人声鼎沸rén shēng dǐng fèi: Describes the loud noise made by a large crowd of people talking or cheering.
轰动一时hōng dòng yì shí: Describes a news story or event causing a powerful but temporary public sensation.

Definition in Chinese

用来形容消息或事件迅速在社会上蔓延，导致人们议论纷纷或场面喧闹。yòng lái xíng róng xiāo xī huò shì jiàn xùn sù zài shè huì shàng màn yán dǎo zhì rén men yì lùn fēn fēn huò chǎng miàn xuān nào

Word origin

The repeated 沸 (fèi, "boil") suggests bubbling activity, while repeated 扬 (yáng, "rise and spread") gives 沸沸扬扬 (fèifèiyángyáng, "boiling and surging") its sense of talk rising through society.

Usage tips

  • The idiom highlights the scale and noise of a public reaction, so it suits reports and headlines more naturally than a quiet private conversation.

Other meanings

  • be in an uproaridiom
  • be in a commotionidiom

Opposites

  • 万籁俱寂wàn lài jù jìbe completely silentidiom

Word lists with this word