zou6 jiu4造謠造谣
Jyutpingzou6 jiu4
Yalejouh yìuh
Definition
To start a rumor; to cook up and spread baseless stories.
neutralcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation of malicious intent, implying the speaker is deliberately fabricating falsehoods to stir up trouble. It is often used in formal contexts or serious accusations rather than casual gossip. When describing casual, less malicious spreading of hearsay, people typically prefer using 傳閒話 or 講是非.
Examples
Don't you go around spreading rumours here.
He is always making up stories, wanting to make everyone unhappy.
Related words
Common phrases
to spread rumours to cause trouble
to spread malicious rumours to slander someone
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 講大話, which simply means telling a lie. 造謠 specifically implies the act of creating and disseminating a false narrative to influence others or cause disruption, whereas 講大話 can be a simple act of deception for personal gain.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
