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绯闻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绯闻fēiwénsex scandalHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #8794, Very Hard
fēiwén(fei1wen2) T1
  1. 1sex scandal
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March 24, 2026

绯闻(緋聞)fēiwén(fei1wen2)

绯闻 (fei1 wen2) refers to a type of rumor or gossip, specifically involving romantic or sexual relationships, often with a scandalous implication. Commonly used in media contexts, it highlights the sensational nature of personal relationships in public life, particularly among celebrities.

Strokes20Frequency#8794DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 绯闻 is especially prevalent in entertainment news, where celebrity scandals can dominate headlines and public conversation, often reflecting societal values and taboos around relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'fiery' red (绯) whisper (闻) that spreads quickly through gossip. The character 绯 has the radical for 'thread' (纟), suggesting how rumors weave through society, while '闻' sounds like 'wind,' carrying news swiftly.

Meanings of 绯闻

fēiwén(fei1wen2)
1sex scandal
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About 绯闻

绯闻Simplified
緋聞Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 绯闻

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Podcast: 绯闻

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AI Study Notes for 绯闻

Quick Contrast

绯闻 (fei1 wen2) vs 八卦 (bāguà) — use 绯闻 for rumors specifically about romantic or sexual relationships, while 八卦 is more general gossip.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when discussing 绯闻, as it can carry a negative connotation. It's often used in informal contexts, especially in tabloids or online discussions. A common collocation is '明星绯闻' (celebrity gossip).

HSK Study Tips

While 绯闻 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects to words related to media and relationships. Students should focus on understanding how gossip is portrayed in both language and culture, possibly linking it to terms like '新闻' (news) and '八卦' (gossip).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绯闻 with '新闻' (news), leading to incorrect usage like '我看到一个绯闻' (I saw a news) instead of '我看到一个绯闻' (I saw a scandal). Ensure you use it in contexts related to gossip or rumors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绯闻

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Component Characters

绯fēicrimson, scarlet; purple
11 strokes纟
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闻wénto hear
HSK 49 strokes门
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How to say sex scandal in Chinese

“sex scandal” in Chinese is绯闻fēiwén

绯闻 (fei1 wen2) refers to a type of rumor or gossip, specifically involving romantic or sexual relationships, often with a scandalous implication. Commonly used in media contexts, it highlights the sensational nature of personal relationships in public life, particularly among celebrities.

When to use 绯闻

Be cautious with the tone when discussing 绯闻, as it can carry a negative connotation. It's often used in informal contexts, especially in tabloids or online discussions. A common collocation is '明星绯闻' (celebrity gossip).

绯闻 or something close to it

绯闻 (fei1 wen2) vs 八卦 (bāguà) — use 绯闻 for rumors specifically about romantic or sexual relationships, while 八卦 is more general gossip.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 绯闻 with '新闻' (news), leading to incorrect usage like '我看到一个绯闻' (I saw a news) instead of '我看到一个绯闻' (I saw a scandal). Ensure you use it in contexts related to gossip or rumors.

Write 绯闻

绯
闻

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

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Cultural Notes for 绯闻

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, while gossip about celebrities is common, it tends to be less formalized in language compared to the specific term '绯闻' in Chinese, which emphasizes the scandalous aspect more distinctly.

Frequently Asked Questions about 绯闻

While it often refers to celebrity gossip, 绯闻 can also apply to any scandalous rumors about personal relationships.

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