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谣言 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谣言yáoyánrumorHSK 7, n, 19 strokes, rank #4913, Very Hard
yáoyán(yao2yan2)yao yan T2
  1. 1rumor
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March 24, 2026

谣言(謠言)yáoyán(yao2yan2)

谣言 refers to a rumor or unverified information that is spread among people, often without a reliable source. It is commonly used in contexts involving gossip, misinformation, or public discourse, especially in media discussions about false news.

Strokes19Frequency#4913DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In contemporary Chinese society, the concept of 谣言 has become particularly significant with the rise of social media, where false information can spread rapidly, impacting public opinion and trust.

Memory tip

Think of 谣 (yáo) as 'yowl'—like a cat yowling out rumors. The character 言 (yán) means 'speech,' so you can imagine a cat yowling out unverified words. Together, they depict the act of spreading unfounded speech.

Meanings of 谣言

yáoyán(yao2yan2)
1rumor
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 谣言

谣言Simplified
謠言Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4913Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 谣言

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Podcast: 谣言

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AI study notes for 谣言

Quick Contrast

谣言 (rumor) vs 假消息 (false news) — use 谣言 for unverified information spread informally, while 假消息 refers specifically to false information presented as news.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 谣言 in formal contexts, as it carries a negative connotation suggesting deceit or misinformation. Common collocations include '传播谣言' (spread rumors) and '揭穿谣言' (expose rumors). Pay attention to the tones to avoid confusion with similar words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 谣言 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to communication and media. Focus on how it appears in discussions about social phenomena or news events, and practice using it in sentences that critique misinformation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 谣言 with gossip (闲聊, xiánliáo), as both involve informal communication, but 谣言 has a negative connotation. For example, saying '我听到一个闲聊' (I heard a gossip) instead of '我听到一个谣言' when referring to false information can be misleading.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谣言

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Component characters

谣yáopopular ballad
12 strokes讠
View full entry
言yánwords
7 strokes言
View full entry

How to say rumor in Chinese

“rumor” in Chinese is谣言yáoyán

谣言 refers to a rumor or unverified information that is spread among people, often without a reliable source. It is commonly used in contexts involving gossip, misinformation, or public discourse, especially in media discussions about false news.

When to use 谣言

Be cautious when using 谣言 in formal contexts, as it carries a negative connotation suggesting deceit or misinformation. Common collocations include '传播谣言' (spread rumors) and '揭穿谣言' (expose rumors). Pay attention to the tones to avoid confusion with similar words.

谣言 or something close to it

谣言 (rumor) vs 假消息 (false news) — use 谣言 for unverified information spread informally, while 假消息 refers specifically to false information presented as news.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 谣言 with gossip (闲聊, xiánliáo), as both involve informal communication, but 谣言 has a negative connotation. For example, saying '我听到一个闲聊' (I heard a gossip) instead of '我听到一个谣言' when referring to false information can be misleading.

Write 谣言

谣
言

Practice writing 谣言 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 谣言

谣言 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

有关财务丑闻的____接连不断地冒出来。

Rumours of financial scandals have come bubbling back to the surface.

Example sentences for 谣言 (10)

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1
有关财务丑闻的谣言接连不断地冒出来。

yǒuguān cáiwù chǒuwén de yáoyán jiēlián búduàn dì mào chūlái。

Rumours of financial scandals have come bubbling back to the surface.
2
我们的目的是要彻底击破围绕他的那些谣言。

wǒmen de mùdì shì yào chèdǐ jī pò wéirào tā de nàxiē yáoyán。

Our intention was to demolish the rumours that have surrounded him.
3
关于这件事正有一则恶意的谣言在流传。

guānyú zhè jiàn shì zhèng yǒu yī zé èyì de yáoyán zài liúchuán。

There's a nasty sort of rumour going around about it.
4
他承认道听途说会引发谣言和辟谣。

tā chéngrèn dào tīng tú shuō huì yǐnfā yáoyán hé bì yáo。

He conceded that second-hand accounts are leading to rumour and counter-rumour.
5
我们对这些子虚乌有的谣言从何而来很感兴趣。

wǒmen duì zhèxiē zi xū Wū yǒude yáoyán cóng hé ér lái hěn gǎnxìngqù。

We're interested in the source of these fictitious rumours.
6
夫妻两人对他们婚姻出现问题的谣言一笑置之。

fūqī liǎng rén duì tāmen hūnyīn chūxiàn wèntí de yáoyán yī xiào zhì zhī。

The couple laughed off rumours that their marriage was in trouble.
7
我想知道是谁散布了那谣言.

wǒ xiǎng zhīdào shì shéi sànbù le nà yáoyán.

I should like to know who put that rumour about.
8
谁散布的这些谣言?

shéi sànbù de zhèxiē yáoyán?

Who spread these rumours?
9
国王连续数月都在散布骇人听闻的谣言。

guówáng liánxù shù yuè dōu zài sànbù hàiréntīngwén de yáoyán。

The King had been putting about lurid rumours for months.
10
我知道这事到处乱传, 不过我想这只是谣言.

wǒ zhīdào zhè shì dàochù luàn chuán, búguò wǒ xiǎng zhè zhǐshì yáoyán.

I know it's bandied about, but I think it's only a rumour.

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Cultural Notes for 谣言

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, rumors are also prevalent, but there is often a stronger emphasis on fact-checking and accountability in media compared to the rapid spread of unverified information in Chinese social contexts.

Frequently asked questions about 谣言

While both can mean rumors, 传闻 (chuánwén) often implies hearsay that may have some basis, whereas 谣言 usually indicates more baseless or malicious gossip.

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