zǐ xū wū yǒu: 子虚乌有 - Fabricated, Fictitious, Baseless

• Keywords: zixuwuyou, 子虚乌有, Chinese idiom, chengyu, fabricated, fictitious, baseless, unfounded, made up, non-existent, pure fiction, Chinese saying, baseless rumor
• Summary: Learn the Chinese idiom (chengyu) 子虚乌有 (zǐ xū wū yǒu), a powerful and literary term used to describe something that is completely fabricated, baseless, or non-existent. This entry explores its fascinating origin story from ancient Chinese literature, shows you how to use it to debunk rumors in modern conversation, and provides numerous examples to master its meaning. Understand why 子虚乌有 is more than just saying “fictional” and how it's used to strongly deny unfounded claims.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zǐ xū wū yǒu
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom), Adjective
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Chengyu)
• Concise Definition: Completely fabricated, entirely baseless, and non-existent.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine someone tells you a wild story and you want to say, “That's pure fiction, completely made up, and has zero basis in reality.” In Chinese, you could use 子虚乌有. It's a formal and emphatic way to dismiss something as a complete fabrication, often used for rumors, accusations, or conspiracy theories. It carries the weight of “a figment of the imagination.”

• 子 (zǐ): A respectful title, similar to “Master” or “Sir.” Here, it's part of a name.
• 虚 (xū): Means “empty,” “void,” “unreal,” or “false.”
• 乌 (wū): Literally “crow” or “black.” In classical Chinese, it can be a phonetic stand-in for “无” (wú), meaning “nothing” or “not have.”
• 有 (yǒu): Means “to have” or “to exist.”

These characters combine in a wonderfully clever way. They form the names of two fictional characters: 子虚 (Zǐ Xū), which translates to “Master Void,” and 乌有 (Wū Yǒu), which translates to “Mr. Nothingness” or “Mr. Non-existent.” So the idiom literally means “Master Void and Mr. Nothingness,” perfectly capturing the essence of something that is entirely made up.

The term 子虚乌有 originates from a masterpiece of literature called “The Rhapsody of Sir Void” (《子虚赋》, Zǐ Xū Fù), written by the Han Dynasty poet Sima Xiangru (司马相如). In the story, a fictional envoy named Zǐ Xū (Master Void) boasts to an official from another state about the glories of his own king's hunting grounds. In a follow-up piece, another fictional character named Wū Yǒu (Mr. Nothingness) refutes him. A third character, Wú Shì Gōng (无是公, Lord No Such Person), then steps in to describe the emperor's even grander park. Because the entire story, including its characters and the events described, was a literary creation, the names of the two main debaters were combined to form an idiom meaning “completely fabricated.” Using this term shows a degree of education and cultural literacy. In Western culture, we might say something is “a tall tale,” “pure fiction,” or “a figment of your imagination.” 子虚乌有 is similar but carries a more formal, literary weight due to its specific origin. It's less like saying “that's a fairy tale” and more like directly referencing characters from a classic text to make your point, which adds a layer of intellectual authority to the denial.

This idiom is versatile and appears in both formal and informal contexts.

• Formal Usage (News, Politics, Business): This is its most common usage. Government spokespeople, company PR departments, and individuals use it to issue strong, official denials of accusations or rumors. It's a definitive way to say “these claims are baseless.”
• Informal Usage (Daily Conversation): Among friends, it can be used with a slightly dramatic or humorous flair to dismiss gossip or an exaggerated story. If your friend tells you they saw a celebrity at the local supermarket, and you're skeptical, you might jokingly say the story is 子虚乌有.
• Connotation: The connotation is strongly negative and dismissive. It's not a neutral word for “fictional” (like a novel). It's used specifically to debunk, deny, or refute something that someone might wrongly believe to be true.

• Example 1:
  • 媒体报道中提到的所有指控都纯属子虚乌有。
  • Pinyin: Méitǐ bàodào zhōng tídào de suǒyǒu zhǐkòng dōu chún shǔ zǐ xū wū yǒu.
  • English: All the accusations mentioned in the media report are purely fabricated.
  • Analysis: This is a classic formal usage, perfect for an official statement from a company or public figure denying allegations.
• Example 2:
  • 他说他中了彩票？我觉得这事儿是子虚乌有的。
  • Pinyin: Tā shuō tā zhòngle cǎipiào? Wǒ juédé zhè shìr shì zǐ xū wū yǒu de.
  • English: He said he won the lottery? I think that's a completely made-up story.
  • Analysis: A common informal use. The speaker is expressing strong skepticism about a friend's claim.
• Example 3:
  • 网上流传的关于世界末日的预言，后来被证明是子虚乌有。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng liúchuán de guānyú shìjiè mòrì de yùyán, hòulái bèi zhèngmíng shì zǐ xū wū yǒu.
  • English: The prophecies about the end of the world circulating online were later proven to be baseless.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe conspiracy theories or predictions that have been debunked.
• Example 4:
  • 这位历史学家指出，许多关于这位古代皇帝的传说都是子虚乌有的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lìshǐxuéjiā zhǐchū, xǔduō guānyú zhè wèi gǔdài huángdì de chuánshuō dōu shì zǐ xū wū yǒu de.
  • English: This historian pointed out that many legends about this ancient emperor are entirely fictitious.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term can be used in an academic context to separate historical fact from myth.
• Example 5:
  • 我从来没说过那样的话，你的指责是子虚乌有！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cónglái méi shuōguò nàyàng de huà, nǐ de zhǐzé shì zǐ xū wū yǒu!
  • English: I never said anything like that, your accusation is completely unfounded!
  • Analysis: A forceful, personal denial. The idiom adds weight and seriousness to the speaker's defense.
• Example 6:
  • 虽然电影里的英雄是子虚乌有的，但他的精神鼓舞了很多人。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán diànyǐng lǐ de yīngxióng shì zǐ xū wū yǒu de, dàn tā de jīngshén gǔwǔle hěnduō rén.
  • English: Although the hero in the movie is fictional, his spirit has inspired many people.
  • Analysis: This is a borderline case. While `虚构的 (xūgòu de)` would be more common and neutral, using 子虚乌有 here emphasizes that this character absolutely does not exist in reality, creating a stronger contrast with the real-world impact he has.
• Example 7:
  • 面对记者的提问，发言人坚称那些负面新闻是子虚乌有。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì jìzhě de tíwèn, fāyánrén jiānchēng nàxiē fùmiàn xīnwén shì zǐ xū wū yǒu.
  • English: Facing the journalist's questions, the spokesperson insisted that the negative news was baseless.
  • Analysis: Another standard example of formal PR or political communication.
• Example 8:
  • 别相信那些关于公司要倒闭的谣言，完全是子虚乌有。
  • Pinyin: Bié xiāngxìn nàxiē guānyú gōngsī yào dǎobì de yáoyán, wánquán shì zǐ xū wū yǒu.
  • English: Don't believe those rumors about the company going bankrupt, they are completely fabricated.
  • Analysis: Used to reassure people and dispel harmful gossip.
• Example 9:
  • 你所谓的证据不过是些子虚乌有的东西，根本站不住脚。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ suǒwèi de zhèngjù búguò shì xiē zǐ xū wū yǒu de dōngxi, gēnběn zhàn bu zhù jiǎo.
  • English: Your so-called evidence is nothing but fabricated stuff that can't hold water at all.
  • Analysis: A very strong and confrontational way to dismiss someone's argument or evidence in a debate.
• Example 10:
  • 那个故事里的“神秘怪兽”只是村民们为了吸引游客而编造的子虚乌有之物。
  • Pinyin: Nàge gùshì lǐ de “shénmì guàishòu” zhǐshì cūnmínmen wèile xīyǐn yóukè ér biānzào de zǐ xū wū yǒu zhī wù.
  • English: The “mysterious monster” in that story was just something completely made up by the villagers to attract tourists.
  • Analysis: A clear example of labeling something as an intentional fabrication. The phrase `…之物 (…zhī wù)` adds a slightly more formal/literary tone.

• “Fictional” vs. “Fabricated”: A common mistake for learners is to use 子虚乌有 for any fictional thing. While a character like Superman is technically 子虚乌有, the more neutral and common word for “fictional” is 虚构 (xūgòu). You should use 子虚乌有 primarily when you need to debunk something—when there's an implication that someone might wrongly believe it's real (e.g., a rumor, an accusation, a conspiracy theory).
• False Friend Alert - 空穴来风 (kōng xué lái fēng): This idiom is famously tricky.
  • Classical Meaning: “Wind comes from an empty cave” — meaning, a rumor must have some origin; “there's no smoke without fire.”
  • Modern (and more common) Meaning: It has confusingly evolved to mean the exact opposite: “a baseless rumor,” making it a synonym for 子虚乌有.
  • Advice: Be aware that native speakers use it both ways. However, for clarity as a learner, it's safer to stick with 子虚乌有 when you want to say something is “completely baseless,” as its meaning is unambiguous.

• 无中生有 (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) - To create something out of nothing. A very close synonym, often describing the act of fabricating a lie.
• 捕风捉影 (bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng) - “Chasing the wind and clutching at shadows.” Refers to making groundless claims or assumptions based on no real evidence.
• 凭空捏造 (píng kōng niē zào) - To fabricate out of thin air. Another idiom that is very similar in meaning.
• 虚构 (xūgòu) - Fictional; to fabricate. A more modern and neutral word, used for literature, movies, etc., without the strong “debunking” connotation.
• 捏造 (niēzào) - To fabricate, to invent (facts, data, charges). Often implies malicious intent.
• 杜撰 (dùzhuàn) - To fabricate a story; to cook something up.
• 谣言 (yáoyán) - Rumor, gossip. This is the kind of thing that is often described as 子虚乌有.
• 空穴来风 (kōng xué lái fēng) - A famously ambiguous idiom that can mean either “a rumor has a source” or “a baseless rumor.”