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传闻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
传闻chuánwénrumorHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #6764, Very Hard
chuánwén(chuan2wen2)chuan wen T2
  1. 1rumor
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March 24, 2026

传闻(傳聞)chuánwén(chuan2wen2)

传闻 (chuan2 wen2) refers to a rumor or hearsay, often indicating information that has not been verified. It is commonly used in contexts where gossip or unofficial news is being discussed, emphasizing the uncertainty of the information's truthfulness.

Strokes15Frequency#6764DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the spread of 传闻 can significantly impact public perception and social interactions, especially in tight-knit communities. Rumors can sometimes lead to social consequences, reflecting the importance of reputation.

Memory tip

Imagine a '传' (to pass on) of a '闻' (sound or news) that travels from person to person like a game of telephone, creating a rumor. The character '传' looks like a person passing a message, while '闻' can be visualized as someone listening intently.

Meanings of 传闻

chuánwén(chuan2wen2)
1rumor
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About 传闻

传闻Simplified
傳聞Traditional
15Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 传闻

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Podcast: 传闻

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AI study notes for 传闻

Quick Contrast

谣言 (yáoyán) - use 传闻 when emphasizing the source of information as hearsay, while 谣言 focuses more on the falsehood of the information.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 传闻 with 传说 (legend) or 传递 (deliver), as the nuances differ. 传闻 is informal and usually used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Common collocations include '传闻流传' (rumors spread) and '传闻不可信' (rumors are unreliable).

HSK Study Tips

While 传闻 is not in the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other words related to communication, like 说 (speak) and 听 (hear). Focus on contextual usage and how it fits into discussions about news and information.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 传闻 as a noun to mean 'news' in a formal context, which is incorrect. Instead, use 消息 for formal situations. For example, saying '这个传闻很重要' (This rumor is important) sounds awkward; use '这个消息很重要' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 传闻

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Component characters

传chuánbiography
HSK 56 strokes亻
View full entry
闻wénto hear
HSK 49 strokes门
View full entry

How to say rumor in Chinese

“rumor” in Chinese is传闻chuánwén

传闻 (chuan2 wen2) refers to a rumor or hearsay, often indicating information that has not been verified. It is commonly used in contexts where gossip or unofficial news is being discussed, emphasizing the uncertainty of the information's truthfulness.

When to use 传闻

Be careful not to confuse 传闻 with 传说 (legend) or 传递 (deliver), as the nuances differ. 传闻 is informal and usually used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Common collocations include '传闻流传' (rumors spread) and '传闻不可信' (rumors are unreliable).

传闻 or something close to it

谣言 (yáoyán) - use 传闻 when emphasizing the source of information as hearsay, while 谣言 focuses more on the falsehood of the information.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 传闻 as a noun to mean 'news' in a formal context, which is incorrect. Instead, use 消息 for formal situations. For example, saying '这个传闻很重要' (This rumor is important) sounds awkward; use '这个消息很重要' instead.

Write 传闻

传
闻

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Frequently asked questions about 传闻

You can say: '这只是一个传闻, 不要相信。' (This is just a rumor, don't believe it.)

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