jiu4 jin4 zi2 jyu1 zi3 ze2謠言止於智者谣言止于智者
Jyutpingjiu4 jin4 zi2 jyu1 zi3 ze2
Yaleyìuh yìhn jí yū ji jé
Definition
Rumors will stop at wise people; wise people do not believe or spread rumors.
neutralcommunicationother
How it's used
This phrase is a classic idiom used to encourage critical thinking and skepticism toward unverified information. It frames the act of ignoring or debunking a rumour as a mark of intelligence and maturity. It is frequently invoked in modern contexts, such as social media discussions or workplace gossip, to signal that one refuses to spread or validate baseless claims.
Examples
Rumours stop at the wise, don't believe all those fake news reports.
When facing online gossip, remember that rumours stop at the wise.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple statement of fact, but it is actually a prescriptive piece of advice. It is not meant to describe what people naturally do, but rather what a wise person ought to do when encountering misinformation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
