liúyán: 流言 - Rumor, Gossip, Hearsay

• Keywords: liuyan, 流言, Chinese for rumor, Chinese for gossip, what does liuyan mean, unsubstantiated rumor in Chinese, liuyan vs yaoyan, Chinese social harmony, spreading rumors in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural significance of 流言 (liúyán), a common Chinese word for “rumor” or “gossip.” This page breaks down the characters 流 (flow) and 言 (speech), explaining how “flowing speech” captures the essence of unsubstantiated information. Discover how 流言 is viewed in modern China, its impact on social harmony, and how it differs from similar terms like 谣言 (yáoyán) and the English word “gossip.” With practical example sentences and cultural insights, this guide is essential for any beginner learner of Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liú yán
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: An unsubstantiated rumor, piece of gossip, or hearsay that circulates among people.
• In a Nutshell: 流言 (liúyán) literally translates to “flowing speech.” It paints a vivid picture of words and stories that drift from person to person without a clear source or verification, much like water in a stream. The term carries a distinctly negative connotation, implying that the information is likely false, harmful, and something one should not spread or believe.

• 流 (liú): This character means “to flow,” “to drift,” or “to circulate.” The left-side radical `氵` is the “water” radical, strongly associating it with the movement of liquids like a river.
• 言 (yán): This character means “speech,” “word,” or “to say.” It's a pictograph of a mouth (`口`) with a tongue sticking out, representing the act of speaking.
• Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 流言 (liúyán) creates a powerful image of “flowing speech” or “circulating words.” This perfectly captures the nature of a rumor—it spreads organically, has no fixed source, and moves through a community.

In Chinese culture, which often prioritizes social harmony (和谐, héxié) and “face” (面子, miànzi), 流言 is seen as a particularly disruptive and damaging force. A rumor can cause someone to lose face and can create conflict within a group, all without direct confrontation. This deep-seated cultural fear of gossip is encapsulated in the famous idiom 人言可畏 (rényán kěwèi), which means “gossip is a fearful thing” or “the words of men are to be feared.” This phrase is famously associated with the tragic suicide of the 1930s Shanghai silent film star Ruan Lingyu, who was hounded by tabloids and public gossip. While the West has the concept of “rumor” or “gossip,” 流言 often carries more weight. In English, “gossip” can sometimes be trivial or even a form of lighthearted social bonding (“celebrity gossip”). In contrast, 流言 is almost never viewed positively. It's perceived as irresponsible and potentially malicious, a threat to personal reputation and social stability. Spreading it is seen as a breach of social etiquette.

流言 is a common word used in various modern contexts.

• Daily Conversation: People use it to warn others not to believe something they've heard. For example, “别信那些流言” (bié xìn nàxiē liúyán) - “Don't believe those rumors.”
• Media and News: It's frequently used in news reports, especially when a public figure or a company has to address a circulating rumor. They will often hold a press conference to “clarify the rumors” (澄清流言, chéngqīng liúyán).
• Social Media: The internet is a massive breeding ground for 流言. The term is used to describe the rapid, unchecked spread of information (and misinformation) online.
• Connotation: The connotation of 流言 is consistently negative. It implies that the information is untrustworthy and should be treated with skepticism.

• Example 1:
  • 别相信网上的流言，很多都是假的。
  • Pinyin: Bié xiāngxìn wǎngshàng de liúyán, hěn duō dōu shì jiǎ de.
  • English: Don't believe the rumors on the internet; many of them are fake.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical warning. This sentence uses 流言 in the context of online misinformation.
• Example 2:
  • 最近公司里有很多关于老板要辞职的流言。
  • Pinyin: Zuìjìn gōngsī lǐ yǒu hěn duō guānyú lǎobǎn yào cízhí de liúyán.
  • English: Recently, there have been many rumors in the office that the boss is going to resign.
  • Analysis: This shows 流言 used for workplace gossip. The structure `关于…的流言` (guānyú…de liúyán) means “rumors about…”.
• Example 3:
  • 那个明星不得不出来澄清流言。
  • Pinyin: Nàge míngxīng bùdébù chūlái chéngqīng liúyán.
  • English: That celebrity had to come out and clarify the rumors.
  • Analysis: `澄清流言` (chéngqīng liúyán) is a very common collocation meaning “to clarify/dispel rumors.”
• Example 4:
  • 流言止于智者。
  • Pinyin: Liúyán zhǐ yú zhìzhě.
  • English: Rumors stop at the wise.
  • Analysis: This is a famous proverb. It means that a wise person will not believe or spread rumors, thus stopping them in their tracks. It highlights the cultural value of not participating in gossip.
• Example 5:
  • 我不希望这些流言影响我们的友谊。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xīwàng zhèxiē liúyán yǐngxiǎng wǒmen de yǒuyì.
  • English: I don't want these rumors to affect our friendship.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the negative, damaging potential of 流言 on personal relationships.
• Example 6:
  • 流言的传播速度非常快。
  • Pinyin: Liúyán de chuánbō sùdù fēicháng kuài.
  • English: The speed at which rumors spread is extremely fast.
  • Analysis: `传播` (chuánbō) means “to spread” or “to disseminate” and is frequently used with 流言.
• Example 7:
  • 他深受流言的困扰。
  • Pinyin: Tā shēn shòu liúyán de kùnrǎo.
  • English: He is deeply troubled by the rumors.
  • Analysis: The structure `深受…的困扰` (shēn shòu…de kùnrǎo) means “to be deeply troubled by…” and shows the psychological impact of 流言.
• Example 8:
  • 你是从哪儿听到这个流言的？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì cóng nǎ'er tīngdào zhège liúyán de?
  • English: Where did you hear this rumor?
  • Analysis: A straightforward question used to inquire about the source of a rumor, often with a skeptical tone.
• Example 9:
  • 面对流言，我们应该保持冷静和理性。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì liúyán, wǒmen yīnggāi bǎochí lěngjìng hé lǐxìng.
  • English: When faced with rumors, we should remain calm and rational.
  • Analysis: This sentence offers advice on how to react to 流言, reflecting a mature and culturally valued approach.
• Example 10:
  • 这种流言毫无根据，完全是无中生有。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng liúyán háo wú gēnjù, wánquán shì wú zhōng shēng yǒu.
  • English: This kind of rumor is completely baseless; it's fabricated out of thin air.
  • Analysis: `毫无根据` (háo wú gēnjù) means “without any basis.” The idiom `无中生有` (wú zhōng shēng yǒu) literally means “to create something from nothing” and is perfect for describing a fabricated rumor.

The biggest point of confusion for learners is the difference between 流言 (liúyán) and 谣言 (yáoyán). Both translate to “rumor,” but they are not always interchangeable.

• 流言 (liúyán) - “Gossip / Hearsay”
  • Focus: Often about personal affairs, private matters, or workplace gossip.
  • Nature: Can arise spontaneously from misunderstanding or idle chatter. While negative, it's not always created with malicious intent.
  • Scope: Usually smaller scale, circulating within a community, school, or office.
  • Example: A rumor that two coworkers are dating.
• 谣言 (yáoyán) - “Malicious Rumor / Disinformation”
  • Focus: Often about public matters, politics, social stability, or public safety. It implies a deliberate fabrication.
  • Nature: Almost always created with malicious intent to deceive, cause panic, or damage a reputation on a large scale. This is the word used for political disinformation.
  • Scope: Often widespread, intended to reach a large audience. The government might officially “refute a 谣言” (辟谣, pìyáo).
  • Example: A rumor that a certain food is poisoned or that a natural disaster is imminent.

Incorrect Usage: Using 流言 for a major public panic.

• Incorrect: 那个关于地震的流言让所有人都很害怕。 (That *liúyán* about the earthquake made everyone scared.)
• Correct: 那个关于地震的谣言让所有人都很害怕。 (That *yáoyán* about the earthquake made everyone scared.)
• Why? A rumor that can cause public panic is a 谣言 because of its serious social consequences, not just idle chatter.

• 谣言 (yáoyán) - A more serious, often deliberately fabricated and malicious rumor, especially concerning public affairs. The key counterpart to 流言.
• 八卦 (bāguà) - The modern, colloquial word for “gossip,” especially about celebrities. It can be more lighthearted than 流言 and is what you'd call “juicy gossip.”
• 传闻 (chuánwén) - Means “hearsay.” It's more neutral than 流言 and simply describes something heard from others, without as strong a negative judgment.
• 小道消息 (xiǎodào xiāoxi) - “News from the small path”; a colloquial term for news from the grapevine or an unofficial source.
• 蜚语 (fēiyǔ) - A more literary and formal word for slanderous remarks or rumors. Often paired with 流言 in the four-character idiom 流言蜚语 (liúyán fēiyǔ), meaning “rumors and slander.”
• 人言可畏 (rényán kěwèi) - An idiom meaning “gossip is a fearful thing,” highlighting the destructive power of rumors in Chinese culture.
• 澄清 (chéngqīng) - (Verb) To clarify, to clear up. Often used in the context of `澄清流言` (to dispel rumors).
• 辟谣 (pìyáo) - (Verb) To refute a rumor. This is a stronger, more official action, typically used by authorities or companies to debunk a 谣言 (yáoyán).