saan3 fung1散風散风
Jyutpingsaan3 fung1
Yalesaan fūng
Definition
To spread news or leak information, especially that which is little-known.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Carries a slightly negative or conspiratorial connotation, often implying that the information being shared is unofficial, sensitive, or potentially damaging. It is frequently used in contexts involving office gossip or rumors that are not meant to be public knowledge yet. Unlike formal ways of reporting news, this specifically highlights the act of leaking or whispering information to others.
Examples
Don't go around spreading this news.
Who is spreading the rumor that the company is laying people off?
Related words
Common phrases
to spread rumors everywhere
to spread rumors recklessly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of dispersing wind or catching a cold, which is a common term in traditional Chinese medicine. In modern social contexts, it is almost exclusively used for spreading rumors or secrets.
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.
