辟谣

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pìyáo: 辟谣 - To Refute a Rumor, Debunk

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 辟谣, pìyáo, piyao, refute a rumor, debunk, debunk a myth, correct misinformation, China fake news, Chinese official statement, clarify, debunking rumors in China.
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 辟谣 (pìyáo), which means “to refute a rumor” or “to debunk.” This term is crucial for understanding modern Chinese media and society, as it refers to the formal act by an authority—like the government, police, or a company—of officially correcting widespread misinformation or fake news. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use with many examples.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): pìyáo
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To officially refute a rumor or debunk false information.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine a piece of “fake news” spreading like wildfire on social media. 辟谣 (pìyáo) is the action an official source, like a government agency or a company, takes to extinguish that fire. It's not just a casual “that's not true”; it's a formal, public declaration intended to set the record straight and restore order. It carries a sense of authority and finality.

Character Breakdown

  • 辟 (pì): This character's core meaning here is “to refute,” “to dispel,” or “to rebut.” It can also mean “to open up,” carrying the idea of clearing a path through confusion.
  • 谣 (yáo): This character means “rumor” or “false talk.” It is the second character in the common word for “rumor,” 谣言 (yáoyán).
  • When combined, 辟谣 (pìyáo) literally means “to refute a rumor.” The characters work together perfectly to create a clear and powerful verb.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In modern China, maintaining social stability (社会稳定, shèhuì wěndìng) is a paramount cultural and political value. Rumors, especially those that spread rapidly online, are seen as a direct threat to this stability. Therefore, the act of 辟谣 (pìyáo) is taken very seriously.
  • Comparison to “Fact-Checking”: In the West, “fact-checking” is often performed by independent journalistic organizations (e.g., Snopes, PolitiFact) or even by the public. In China, 辟谣 has a much stronger connotation of being a top-down action from an official authority. When you see 辟谣, it's most often the government, the police, a state-run enterprise, or a major corporation issuing the statement.
  • This difference highlights a cultural variance in information flow. While Western culture often champions a “marketplace of ideas” where truth emerges from debate, the Chinese context often emphasizes a clear, authoritative voice to quell chaos and provide the “correct” information, reinforcing social harmony (和谐, héxié). However, this has also led to public cynicism, where an “official refutation” (官方辟谣, guānfāng pìyáo) is sometimes sarcastically seen as confirmation that the rumor had a grain of truth.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Official Announcements: This is the most common usage. Government departments use their official social media accounts (like on Weibo) to 辟谣 about everything from public health scares and social incidents to policy misunderstandings. The phrase 官方辟谣 (guānfāng pìyáo), meaning “official refutation,” is extremely common.
  • Corporate Public Relations: A company might issue a statement to 辟谣 about rumors of a product defect, financial trouble, or unethical behavior. This is a critical PR tool to protect the company's reputation.
  • Celebrity Gossip: A celebrity's studio or agent will often post a formal message to 辟谣 regarding rumors about the star's personal life, career, or legal troubles.
  • Connotation: The term is generally neutral, referring to a necessary action. However, depending on the public's trust in the source, it can be viewed with skepticism.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 警方很快发布通告，对网络上的不实传闻进行辟谣。
    • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng hěn kuài fābù tōnggào, duì wǎngluò shàng de bùshí chuánwén jìnxíng pìyáo.
    • English: The police quickly issued a notice to debunk the false rumors on the internet.
    • Analysis: A classic example of official use. The police (警方) are taking formal action (进行辟谣) to counter rumors (传闻).
  • Example 2:
    • 这家公司不得不站出来辟谣，称其产品是安全的。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī bùdébù zhàn chūlái pìyáo, chēng qí chǎnpǐn shì ānquán de.
    • English: This company had to come forward to refute the rumors, stating that its products are safe.
    • Analysis: This shows corporate PR usage. “不得不 (bùdébù)” means “have no choice but to,” highlighting the urgency.
  • Example 3:
    • 很多所谓的“健康小知识”后来都被专家辟谣了。
    • Pinyin: Hěn duō suǒwèi de “jiànkāng xiǎo zhīshì” hòulái dōu bèi zhuānjiā pìyáo le.
    • English: A lot of so-called “health tips” were later debunked by experts.
    • Analysis: This uses the passive voice with 被 (bèi), showing that the “tips” were the recipient of the debunking action.
  • Example 4:
    • 面对满天飞的谣言，我们必须立刻辟谣。
    • Pinyin: Miànduì mǎntiānfēi de yáoyán, wǒmen bìxū lìkè pìyáo.
    • English: Faced with rumors flying everywhere, we must refute them immediately.
    • Analysis: 满天飞 (mǎntiānfēi) is a vivid idiom meaning “to fill the sky” or “to be everywhere,” emphasizing the scale of the rumor.
  • Example 5:
    • 官方辟谣平台每天都会更新信息。
    • Pinyin: Guānfāng pìyáo píngtái měitiān dūhuì gēngxīn xìnxī.
    • English: The official rumor-debunking platform updates its information every day.
    • Analysis: This shows 辟谣 used as an adjective to describe a noun (平台, píngtái - platform).
  • Example 6:
    • 他在社交媒体上发了一篇长文，辟谣说自己没有离婚。
    • Pinyin: Tā zài shèjiāo méitǐ shàng fāle yī piān cháng wén, pìyáo shuō zìjǐ méiyǒu líhūn.
    • English: He posted a long article on social media to refute the rumor that he got divorced.
    • Analysis: A common celebrity scenario. The action of 辟谣 is followed by a “说 (shuō)” clause explaining the content of the refutation.
  • Example 7:
    • 这条新闻是真的吗？有人辟谣了吗？
    • Pinyin: Zhè tiáo xīnwén shì zhēn de ma? Yǒurén pìyáo le ma?
    • English: Is this news real? Has anyone debunked it?
    • Analysis: A perfect question for a beginner to learn, asking if a refutation has occurred.
  • Example 8:
    • 政府辟谣后，市民们终于松了一口气。
    • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ pìyáo hòu, shìmínmen zhōngyú sōngle yī kǒu qì.
    • English: After the government refuted the rumor, the citizens finally breathed a sigh of relief.
    • Analysis: This sentence shows the intended positive outcome of a 辟谣: restoring calm and relieving anxiety.
  • Example 9:
    • 别信那个，纯属谣言，官方早就辟谣了。
    • Pinyin: Bié xìn nàge, chún shǔ yáoyán, guānfāng zǎo jiù pìyáo le.
    • English: Don't believe that, it's a pure rumor; the authorities debunked it a long time ago.
    • Analysis: A very natural, conversational way to use the term. 早就…了 (zǎo jiù…le) emphasizes that the action happened in the past.
  • Example 10:
    • 网友开玩笑说：“等官方来辟谣，这事儿就肯定是了。”
    • Pinyin: Wǎngyǒu kāiwánxiào shuō: “Děng guānfāng lái pìyáo, zhè shìr jiù kěndìng shì le.”
    • English: Netizens jokingly say: “Wait for the official refutation, and then we'll know it's definitely true.”
    • Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cynical modern take on 辟谣. It's a joke that implies official denials are sometimes used to cover up inconvenient truths.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 辟谣 (pìyáo) vs. 否认 (fǒurèn - to deny): This is the most common point of confusion.
    • 否认 (fǒurèn) is a general, often personal, denial of a fact or accusation. Example: `他否认他偷了钱。` (He denied that he stole the money.)
    • 辟谣 (pìyáo) is a formal, public refutation of a widespread *rumor*. It's about correcting public misinformation, not just defending oneself against a direct accusation.
    • Incorrect Usage: `我朋友问我是不是要去美国，我辟谣了。` (My friend asked if I was going to America, and I refuted the rumor.)
    • Correction: `我朋友问我是不是要去美国，我否认了。` (My friend asked if I was going to America, and I denied it.) You use `否认` because it was a personal question, not a public rumor.
  • 辟谣 (pìyáo) vs. 澄清 (chéngqīng - to clarify):
    • 澄清 (chéngqīng) is softer. It means “to clarify” a misunderstanding or make a situation less confusing. It doesn't necessarily imply the original information was a malicious rumor.
    • 辟谣 (pìyáo) is stronger and more direct. It is used when the information is considered a flat-out false rumor (谣言). You 澄清 a misunderstanding; you 辟谣 a lie.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 谣言 (yáoyán) - Rumor, fake news. This is the noun that 辟谣 acts upon.
  • 假新闻 (jiǎ xīnwén) - Fake news. A modern synonym for the type of content that needs to be debunked.
  • 澄清 (chéngqīng) - To clarify. A softer alternative, used for misunderstandings rather than outright rumors.
  • 否认 (fǒurèn) - To deny. A more personal and general term for denial.
  • 官宣 (guānxuān) - Official announcement. An “official announcement” is often the method used to 辟谣.
  • 官方 (guānfāng) - Official, from the government or an authority. Often used as a prefix: 官方辟谣.
  • 真相 (zhēnxiàng) - The truth, the real situation. The ultimate goal of a successful 辟谣.
  • 传闻 (chuánwén) - Hearsay, rumor. A close synonym of `谣言`.
  • 事实 (shìshí) - Fact. What a 辟谣 aims to establish.