fung1 jin4 fung1 jyu5風言風語风言风语
Jyutpingfung1 jin4 fung1 jyu5
Yalefūng yìhn fūng yúh
Definition
Slanderous gossip, baseless rumors, or sarcastic remarks.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom specifically targets malicious or groundless talk intended to damage someone's reputation. It carries a stronger sense of hostility than general gossip, often implying that the speaker is being deliberately provocative or spiteful. It is frequently used to advise someone to ignore negativity rather than engage with it.
Examples
They like to gossip behind people's backs.
Related words
Common phrases
to spread slanderous rumors
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for casual chatter, but it is inherently negative and accusatory. It should not be used to describe harmless small talk or friendly updates between acquaintances.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
